The DOI matches its Crossref record; 33 of the 33 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Digestibility of black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) fed to leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius)
Open accessAbstract
Black soldier fly (BSF) larvae have been marketed as an excellent choice for providing calcium to reptiles without the need of dusting or gut loading. However, previous studies have indicated that they have limited calcium digestibility and are deficient in fat soluble vitamins (A, D3, and E). In this feeding and digestibility trial, 24 adult male leopard geckos were fed one of three diets for 4 months: 1) whole, vitamin A gut loaded larvae; 2) needle pierced, vitamin A gut loaded larvae; or 3) whole, non-gut loaded larvae. Fecal output from the geckos was collected daily and apparent digestibility was calculated for dry matter, protein, fat, and minerals. There were no differences in digestibility coefficients among groups. Most nutrients were well digested by the leopard geckos when compared to previous studies, with the exception of calcium (digestibility co-efficient 43%), as the calcium-rich exoskeleton usually remained intact after passage through the GI tract. Biochemistry profiles revealed possible deficits occurring over time for calcium, sodium, and total protein. In regards to vitamin A digestibility, plasma and liver vitamin A concentrations were significantly higher in the supplemented groups (plasma- gut loaded groups: 33.38 ± 7.11 ng/ml, control group: 25.8 ± 6.72 ng/ml, t = 1.906, p = 0.04; liver- gut loaded groups: 28.67 ± 18.90 μg/g, control group: 14.13 ± 7.41 μg/g, t = 1.951, p = 0.03). While leopard geckos are able to digest most of the nutrients provided by BSF larvae, including those that have been gut loaded, more research needs to be performed to assess whether or not they provide adequate calcium in their non-supplemented form.
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Metadata
- Authors
- Boykin, K. L., Carter, R. T., Butler-Perez, K., Buck, C. Q., Peters, J. W., Rockwell, K. E., & Mitchell, M. A.
- Affiliations
- Louisiana State University (US)
- Tuskegee University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Boykin, Kimberly L.
- Carter, Renee T.
- Butler-Perez, Karina
- Buck, Cameron Q.
- Peters, Jordan W.
- Rockwell, Kelly E.
- Mitchell, Mark A.
- Venue
- PLOS ONE
- Publisher
- Public Library of Science (PLoS)
- Published
- 2020-05-11
- Volume
- 15
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- e0232496
- ISSN
- 1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC7213736
- OpenAlex
- W3022113135
- Cited by
- 17
- References
- 33
- Citations by year
- 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 2
- FWCI
- 1.93
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Civil War Book Review (submittedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Funders
- Louisiana State University SVM Corp grant (8262)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Insect Science › Insect Utilization and Effects
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Aquatic Science › Aquaculture Nutrition and Growth
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Keywords
- black soldier fly larvae, Hermetia illucens, leopard gecko, Eublepharis macularius, reptile nutrition, calcium digestibility, vitamin A, apparent digestibility, exoskeleton, fecal output, plasma biochemistry
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Animal Feed, Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena, Calcium, Dietary, Diet, Digestion, Larva, Liver, Lizards, Male, Nutritive Value, Simuliidae, Vitamin A
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