Hermetia illucens meal from different substrates for replacing fishmeal: study on zebrafish as fish model

Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) has been extensively studied as effective bioconverter insect and its adaptability to different biowaste. The meal produced from the larvae is also one of the most promising candidate protein sources for replacing fishmeal in aquafeeds. The substrate nutritional...

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Main Authors: Chiara Sangiacomo, Laura Trombetta, Francesca Susini, Letizia Brogi, Rosario Licitra, Maria Machese, Patrizia Falabella, Antonio Franco, Carmen Scieuzo, Gianmarco Del Vecchio, Tiziano Verri, Baldassare Fronte
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-10-01
Series:Aquaculture Reports
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352513425004296
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author Chiara Sangiacomo
Laura Trombetta
Francesca Susini
Letizia Brogi
Rosario Licitra
Maria Machese
Patrizia Falabella
Antonio Franco
Carmen Scieuzo
Gianmarco Del Vecchio
Tiziano Verri
Baldassare Fronte
author_facet Chiara Sangiacomo
Laura Trombetta
Francesca Susini
Letizia Brogi
Rosario Licitra
Maria Machese
Patrizia Falabella
Antonio Franco
Carmen Scieuzo
Gianmarco Del Vecchio
Tiziano Verri
Baldassare Fronte
author_sort Chiara Sangiacomo
collection DOAJ
description Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) has been extensively studied as effective bioconverter insect and its adaptability to different biowaste. The meal produced from the larvae is also one of the most promising candidate protein sources for replacing fishmeal in aquafeeds. The substrate nutritional composition is extremely important for an efficient insect growth, can modulate the nutritional value of the larval meal, and when included in aquafeeds it may affect fish growth and health. The effect of different rearing substrates on black soldier fly larval meal nutritional composition is not yet adequately investigated, so far. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the use of black soldier fly larval meal obtained from strawberry by-product and spent grain for replacing fishmeal, on zebrafish growth parameters, gut health status, and reproductive performances. A total of 375 double transgenic zebrafish (Tg(coro1a:eGFP;lyz:Dsred)) were used to test five isoproteic, isolipidic and isoenergetic diets: a control diet including 35 % fishmeal, and four experimental diets including 25 % or 35 % of black soldier fly larval meal obtained from strawberry and spent grain, respectively (SB25, SB35, SG25 and SG35; 71 % or 100 % fish meal replacement rate, respectively). The results showed no negative effects on fish mortality, feed intake, and feed conversion rate, while fish fed both black soldier fly larval meal showed better growth parameters (final body weight, body weight gain, Specific Growth Rate and Condition factor) than control group. Among treatments, no differences were observed for macrophages and neutrophils density in the anterior gut portion, as well as on reproductive performances. Overall, the results of the present study suggest that H. illucens larval meal produced either on strawberry byproducts and spent grain, can be effectively used for replacing fishmeal in aquafeeds, with that enhancing aquaculture sustainability.
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spelling doaj-art-aae79be20cec473c8fa880aeeb312d132025-08-20T03:41:54ZengElsevierAquaculture Reports2352-51342025-10-014410304310.1016/j.aqrep.2025.103043Hermetia illucens meal from different substrates for replacing fishmeal: study on zebrafish as fish modelChiara Sangiacomo0Laura Trombetta1Francesca Susini2Letizia Brogi3Rosario Licitra4Maria Machese5Patrizia Falabella6Antonio Franco7Carmen Scieuzo8Gianmarco Del Vecchio9Tiziano Verri10Baldassare Fronte11Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Pisa 56124, Italy; Corresponding authors.Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Pisa 56124, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Regioni Lazio e Toscana, Pisa 56123, ItalyBio@SNS, Department of Neurosciences, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa 56126, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Pisa 56124, Italy; Corresponding authors.Molecular Medicine and Neurobiology-ZebraLab, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Pisa 56128, ItalyDepartment of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Basilicata, Potenza 85100, Italy; Spinoff XFlies s.r.l, University of Basilicata, Via dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, Potenza 85100, ItalyDepartment of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Basilicata, Potenza 85100, Italy; Spinoff XFlies s.r.l, University of Basilicata, Via dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, Potenza 85100, ItalyDepartment of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Basilicata, Potenza 85100, Italy; Spinoff XFlies s.r.l, University of Basilicata, Via dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, Potenza 85100, ItalyDepartment of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, Lecce 73100, ItalyDepartment of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, Lecce 73100, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Pisa 56124, Italy; Interdipartmental Center for Agro-ecology Research, University of Pisa, Pisa 56122, ItalyBlack soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) has been extensively studied as effective bioconverter insect and its adaptability to different biowaste. The meal produced from the larvae is also one of the most promising candidate protein sources for replacing fishmeal in aquafeeds. The substrate nutritional composition is extremely important for an efficient insect growth, can modulate the nutritional value of the larval meal, and when included in aquafeeds it may affect fish growth and health. The effect of different rearing substrates on black soldier fly larval meal nutritional composition is not yet adequately investigated, so far. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the use of black soldier fly larval meal obtained from strawberry by-product and spent grain for replacing fishmeal, on zebrafish growth parameters, gut health status, and reproductive performances. A total of 375 double transgenic zebrafish (Tg(coro1a:eGFP;lyz:Dsred)) were used to test five isoproteic, isolipidic and isoenergetic diets: a control diet including 35 % fishmeal, and four experimental diets including 25 % or 35 % of black soldier fly larval meal obtained from strawberry and spent grain, respectively (SB25, SB35, SG25 and SG35; 71 % or 100 % fish meal replacement rate, respectively). The results showed no negative effects on fish mortality, feed intake, and feed conversion rate, while fish fed both black soldier fly larval meal showed better growth parameters (final body weight, body weight gain, Specific Growth Rate and Condition factor) than control group. Among treatments, no differences were observed for macrophages and neutrophils density in the anterior gut portion, as well as on reproductive performances. Overall, the results of the present study suggest that H. illucens larval meal produced either on strawberry byproducts and spent grain, can be effectively used for replacing fishmeal in aquafeeds, with that enhancing aquaculture sustainability.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352513425004296Aquaculture sustainabilityFish nutritionHermetia illucens mealFishmeal replacementRearing substrates
spellingShingle Chiara Sangiacomo
Laura Trombetta
Francesca Susini
Letizia Brogi
Rosario Licitra
Maria Machese
Patrizia Falabella
Antonio Franco
Carmen Scieuzo
Gianmarco Del Vecchio
Tiziano Verri
Baldassare Fronte
Hermetia illucens meal from different substrates for replacing fishmeal: study on zebrafish as fish model
Aquaculture Reports
Aquaculture sustainability
Fish nutrition
Hermetia illucens meal
Fishmeal replacement
Rearing substrates
title Hermetia illucens meal from different substrates for replacing fishmeal: study on zebrafish as fish model
title_full Hermetia illucens meal from different substrates for replacing fishmeal: study on zebrafish as fish model
title_fullStr Hermetia illucens meal from different substrates for replacing fishmeal: study on zebrafish as fish model
title_full_unstemmed Hermetia illucens meal from different substrates for replacing fishmeal: study on zebrafish as fish model
title_short Hermetia illucens meal from different substrates for replacing fishmeal: study on zebrafish as fish model
title_sort hermetia illucens meal from different substrates for replacing fishmeal study on zebrafish as fish model
topic Aquaculture sustainability
Fish nutrition
Hermetia illucens meal
Fishmeal replacement
Rearing substrates
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352513425004296
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