Digestive proteases and in vitro protein digestibility of feed ingredients for the Central American river turtle, Dermatemys mawii.

Functional characteristics of digestive proteases and in vitro digestibility of several protein sources were studied in hatchlings of Central American river turtles, Dermatemys mawii. Acidic and alkaline proteases from the stomach and intestines were used, and optimums for acidic proteases were registered at 55°C and pH 2, while alkaline proteases were found at 55°C and pH 9. Ten protein ingredients, both vegetable and animal sources, were explored by the pH-STAT method, only for alkaline proteases. The degree of hydrolysis was at its highest for squid meal and lowest for blood meal, while the total free amino acids level was at its highest for squid meal, and lowest for wheat gluten meal. Our results indicate that D. mawii has a broad capacity to digest both animal and vegetable sources, and suggests some ingredients more suitable to design artificial diets for this species.