2018
Exploring the Use of Trimethylamine Oxide as a Feed Additive to Combat Soy-Induced Enteritis in Farmed Rainbow Trout
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Contributor/Checkoff:
Soy Aquaculture Alliance
Category:
Export/Trade
Keywords:
Aquaculture
Parent Project:
This is the first year of this project.
Lead Principal Investigator:
Madison (Matt) Powell, University of Idaho
Co-Principal Investigators:
Project Code:
1830-352-0501-F
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
United Soybean Board
$73,024
Institution Funded:
University of Idaho
$73,024
Brief Project Summary:

Feed additive trimethylamine oxide (TMAO), a small, intracellular molecule and universal cytoprotectant, had a positive effect on reducing stress and including TMAO in a diet containing soybean meal may improve performance, allowing for the increased use of soybean meal in fish diets. Inclusion of TMAO in fish diets helped suppress intestinal inflammation and increased growth when included at the right concentration. Soybean meal with TMAO also significantly showed differences in serum proteins associated with stress and gene expression. This research was conducted at the University of Idaho, supported by the Soy Aquaculture Alliance.

Key Audience:
Aquaculture nutritionists, aquaculture feed producers, rainbow trout producers

Information And Results
Project Deliverables

Abstract and Presentation at the triennial meeting of the World Aquaculture Society (New Orleans, LA, Feb.
2019): EXPLORING THE USE OF TRIMETHYLAMINE OXIDE AS A FEED ADDITIVE TO COMBAT SOY-INDUCED
ENTERITIS IN FARMED RAINBOW TROUT by Abigail B. Bockus*, Madison S. Powell, Wendy M. Sealey, and
Gibson T. Gaylord

A manuscript of the same title is in preparation for submission to Aquaculture Research.

A second manuscript entitled: Trimethylamine oxide effects on immunological and stress-related
pathways in rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ) by Madison S. Powell, Abigail B. Bockus, Wendy M.
Sealey, and Gibson T. Gaylord is in preparation for submission to the Journal of Fish and Shellfish
Immunology.

Final Project Results

Updated February 19, 2021:

View uploaded report PDF file

View uploaded report 2 PDF file

From this study, the results show that TMAO has a positive effect on reducing stress and that inclusion of TMAO in a diet containing SBM may improve performance, ultimately allowing for increased use of SBM containing TMAO in fish diets.
It is expected that dietary TMAO will facilitate even better growth in marine ?sh than rainbow trout. Next steps include examining its use in marine fish species that are highly sensitive to SBM, such as Atlantic salmon.

• Fish consuming diets with 40% SBM alone showed signs of distal intestine inflammation (enteritis)
• Inclusion of TMAO in the diet helped suppress intestinal inflammation and increased growth when included at the right concentration
• SBM with TMAO slightly improved histological signs of distal enteritis
• SBM with TMAO signi?cantly showed differences in serum proteins associated with stress and gene expression

The United Soybean Research Retention policy will display final reports with the project once completed but working files will be purged after three years. And financial information after seven years. All pertinent information is in the final report or if you want more information, please contact the project lead at your state soybean organization or principal investigator listed on the project.