Propolis is a viscose waxy resin produced by bees through the combination of plant exudates, wax, pollen and an enzyme present in bee saliva, with antiseptic, antimicrobial, antiparasitic, bacteriostatic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Natural products such as propolis may offer a variety of applications in aquaculture, minimizing the risk and side effects that synthetic products used in this activity may have, such as a negative environmental impact and on animal/human health due to their ecotoxicity. Unfortunately, aquaculture depends on the use of chemicals for its development to control several diseases that affect this industry. In this review, a bibliographic survey of the functional properties attributed to propolis in scientific publications, and the advances in its understanding and use as an immunostimulant, food additive, antimicrobial and therapeutant within the aquaculture industry was done; concluding that propolis is a natural functional additive, which used at the appropriate dosage results in better fish health, thus improving productivity and having a great potential for its use in aquaculture.

This study evaluated the productive performance and carcass traits of broiler chickens during the warm season in dry tropical conditions. Two hundred, 1-day-old chicks were used. Birds were fed on reduced (RED) and standard (STD) diets, and two essential oils (EOs) levels, 0 and 200 ppm. The RED diets were formulated with 10% less energy and 10% less protein than STD diets. In the starter phase, weight gain was greater (p < 0.01) in birds fed STD than birds fed RED. In the starter phase, productive variables were not affected (p ≥ 0.14) by EOs. In the finisher phase, greater feed intake (p = 0.02) and higher weight gain (p = 0.04) were observed in chickens on STD. Feed conversion ratio was similar (p = 0.97) for STD and RED. Throughout this study (1–42 d), greater feed intake (p = 0.02) and higher weight gain (p < 0.01) were found in chickens on STD. Feed conversion ratio was similar (p = 0.51) for STD and RED. Broiler chickens on EO-supplemented diets had better feed conversion (p ≥ 0.08). Hot carcass weight was greater (p < 0.01) in birds on STD. Greater yields of leg-thigh (p = 0.01), back (p = 0.01), and wings (p < 0.01) were observed in RED. Carcass yields, breast yield, pH, and meat temperature were not influenced (p ≥ 0.14) by nutrient concentrations in the diet. Carcass evaluations were not affected (p ≥ 0.11) by EOs. Body temperature was lower (p = 0.03) in birds receiving RED, however EOs had no effect (p ≥ 0.22) on body temperature. For the length of the study, at 20:00 h, broiler chickens fed on RED diets showed lower (p = 0.04) body temperatures. In conclusion, broiler chickens were under heat stress during the study, and body temperatures were reduced in chickens fed on RED diets or with EOs. Diet modification or EO-supplementation may improve feed conversion, though RED diets may have a negative effect on weight gain or carcass values.

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and metrifonate (Mtf) are common products used in ectoparasite infestations on fish cultures. In Mexico for channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) the state of Tamaulipas is one of the most productive regions under controlled systems. The therapeutic efficacy of H2O2 and Mtf on a common monogenean parasite, Ligictaluridus floridanus was evaluated. In vitro trials were conducted with excised fish gills naturally infected with L. floridanus, which were immersed in H2O2 (150, 300 and 570 mg L-1) and Mtf (0.25, 0.5 and 0.75 mg L-1) solutions. The efficacy of the treatments was registered by observing microscopically the survival time of the parasites. In addition, an in vivo trial using catfish juveniles, naturally infected with L. floridanus, was also performed. One group received immersion baths of 570 mg L-1 H2O2 (3%) during 4 min; the Mtf (90%) group received 0.5 mg L-1 Mtf for 10 min. Treatments were done on days 3, 7, and 11 of the experiment. Results indicate that baths...

During August 2016 we sampled fish from Vicente Guerrero Reservoir (also known as Las Adjuntas Reservoir), Tamaulipas, Mexico to increase the inventory of endohelminths parasitizing 3 species of fish inhabiting this water body and to identify their possible zoonotic potential. We collected 2 introduced species of fish, Cyprinus carpio (n = 10) and Oreochromis aureus (n = 15), and 1 native species, Micropterus salmoides (n = 17). The 2 introduced species were examined for parasites for the first time from this reservoir. As result, we found 4 species of parasite: 2 larvae of nematodes (Contracaecum sp. and Spiroxys sp.) and 2 trematodes (Posthodiplostomum minimum in the larval stage and adults of Saccocoelioides sp.), but none with zoonotic potential. Only nematodes parasitized 2 species of fish, but their prevalence and mean intensities were not significantly different between the host species. This work is the first parasitological study of O. aureus in Tamaulipas, and the records of the tremat...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of propolis against Ligictaluridus floridanus on Ictalurus punctatus gills. This st