Influence of dietary prebiotic mixture (α-mune) on growth performance, haematology and innate immunity of Beluga sturgeon (Huso huso) juvenile

The present study investigated the effects of prebiotic (α-mune), a mixture of mannan oligosaccharide, β-1,3 and β-1,6 glucan, on the growth performance, haematology and innate immunity of beluga sturgeon (Huso huso) juvenile. Fish (46±3 g) were allocated into 12 tanks (15 fish per tank) and triplicate groups were fed a control diet or diets containing 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5 g kg-1 prebiotic for 46 days. Fish fed 1.5 g kg-1 prebiotic displayed significantly higher final weight, specific growth rate and feed conversion ratio. WBC, RBC, MCV, MCH, haemoglobin, haematocrit and lymphocyte levels were also significantly higher in the fish fed 1.5 g kg-1 prebiotic. Furthermore, the highest haematocrit content and lymphocyte level were found in the fish fed a diet containing 1.5 g kg-1 prebiotic. Alternative complement activity (ACH50), lysozyme activity and Ig concentration were significantly higher in the fed 1.5 g kg-1 prebiotic. These results indicate that α-mune can be considered as a beneficial dietary supplement for improving the growth performance, haematological and immunological parameters of beluga sturgeon juvenile

Effects of different levels of microencapsulated antioxidant supplementation on growth and feed performances, body composition and some blood indices in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different levels of microencapsulated antioxidant supplementation (Nano-selenium, Vitamins E and C) on growth performance, body composition and some blood biochemical indices in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. Fish with an average weight of 9.07 ± 0.36 g were distributed into 12 tanks and divided into four experimental groups: treatment 1 (N-Se; 0.1, E; 30 and C; 100 mg/kg), treatment 2 (N-Se; 0.2, E; 60 and C; 200 mg/kg), treatment 3 (N-Se; 0.3, E; 90 and C; 300 mg/kg) and commercial diet as control. The results exhibited that the fish fed with diets containing additional microencapsulated antioxidant supplementation induced higher final growth, weight gain, the protein and lipid efficiency ratios, while had no different in feed conversion ratio. The body composition such as protein and lipid did not exhibit significant differences between the treatments. The serum lysozyme activity and superoxide dismutase enzyme were significantly elevated in fish fed with supplemented diet compared to the control. The alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase significantly increased in the three treatments whereas aspartate aminotransferase reduced in fish fed with antioxidant supplementation compared to the control. The present results indicated the beneficent effects of microencapsulated Nano Se and vitamins E and C on growth rate and immune response in rainbow trout

Influence of dietary prebiotic mixture (α-mune) on growth performance, haematology and innate immunity of Beluga sturgeon (Huso huso) juvenile

The present study investigated the effects of prebiotic (α-mune), a mixture of mannan oligosaccharide, β-1,3 and β-1,6 glucan, on the growth performance, haematology and innate immunity of beluga sturgeon (Huso huso) juvenile. Fish (46±3 g) were allocated into 12 tanks (15 fish per tank) and triplicate groups were fed a control diet or diets containing 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5 g kg-1 prebiotic for 46 days. Fish fed 1.5 g kg-1 prebiotic displayed significantly higher final weight, specific growth rate and feed conversion ratio. WBC, RBC, MCV, MCH, haemoglobin, haematocrit and lymphocyte levels were also significantly higher in the fish fed 1.5 g kg-1 prebiotic. Furthermore, the highest haematocrit content and lymphocyte level were found in the fish fed a diet containing 1.5 g kg-1 prebiotic. Alternative complement activity (ACH50), lysozyme activity and Ig concentration were significantly higher in the fed 1.5 g kg-1 prebiotic. These results indicate that α-mune can be considered as a beneficial dietary supplement for improving the growth performance, haematological and immunological parameters of beluga sturgeon juvenile

Brown Seaweed (Padina australis) Extract can Promote Performance, Innate Immune Responses, Digestive Enzyme Activities, Intestinal Gene Expression and Resistance against Aeromonas hydrophila in Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Eight-week oral administration of Padina australis ethyl acetate extract at 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg diets was assessed on the growth performance, tight junction proteins, intestinal immunity, and disease resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila in common carp (Cyprinus carpio). A total of 300 healthy common carp weighing around 14.8 ± 0.03 g were randomly assigned into four equal groups within 12 glass aquariums, each in three replicates (25 fish/tank), for the feeding trial experiment. The first group served as the control group and was fed an un-supplemented diet, whilst the other three groups were offered diets containing graded amounts of Padina australis ethyl acetate extract at 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, respectively. The growth indices, including final weight, length, weight gain rate, specific growth rate, and feed conversion ratio, were meaningfully improved in fish fed with the algae at 200 and 400 mg/kg compared to the control fish (p < 0.05). Similarly, digestive enzyme activities and serum immune parameters were significantly higher in all treatments, especially 200 and 400 mg/kg fed groups, compared to the control (p < 0.05). In parallel, significant upregulation of genes related to integrity and the immune system was shown in the intestine of these treatment groups compared to control fish (p < 0.05). When fish were challenged with A. hydrophila, the cumulative survival percentages were 53.3% (p = 0.215), 70.0 % (p = 0.009), and 76.7% (p = 0.002) in fish fed 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg diets, respectively, compared to 36.7% survival in control fish (p = 0.134). These data show that the eight-week dietary administration of P. australis extract to common carp can enhance growth performance, digestive enzyme activity, immune response, and disease resistance to A. hydrophila infection

Probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics used to control vibriosis in fish: A review

The aquaculture industry is still expanding to provide human beings with healthy and nutritious protein sources. Infectious diseases, deteriorated water quality parameters, and other environmental stressors are from the main obstacles that threaten fish farming and reduce its profitability. Vibriosis is one of the most common bacterial diseases that negatively affect shrimp, marine fishes, and some freshwater fish causing high mortalities and severe economic loss. Chemotherapeutic agents as antibiotics are commonly applied for treatment strategies; however, their numerous drawbacks to fish and the aquatic environment have limited their use. Moreover, FDA has prohibited certain antibiotics from being used for food fish to avoid their negative consequences on human consumers. Water quality control and biosecurity protocols are traditionally applied to combat vibriosis. Nowadays, immunomodulators are greatly used and described throughout the globe to enhance the fish immunity. In this concern, probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics have become common solutions to increase the fish resistance against vibriosis. They were approved to be current alternatives to limit the usage of antibiotics in aquaculture resulting in less mortality and increased health and welfare of the aquatic organisms. Many studies speculated that probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics could be efficiently and effectively used as food or water additives to increase immunity, thereby reducing the mortality caused by several fish pathogens such as Vibrio species. Comprehensively, this review article presents the latest knowledge on the potential roles of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics to boost immunity and reduce the impacts of vibriosis in several finfish species. This review article will also provide new findings and possible mechanisms of action of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics to control vibriosis in fish. These literature will be helpful to increase the sustainability of aquaculture and health welfare of farmed fish

Assessing the impact of dietary polystyrene nanoplastics on growth performance, immunological parameters, and antioxidant defense in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Abstract This trial was performed in order to investigate the response of zebrafish (Danio rerio) to dietary exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics (PS‐NPs) under laboratory conditions on fish growth and health. Healthy zebrafish (n=240) were divided into 12 tanks and fed with diets including 0 (T0), 100 (T1), 500 (T2), and 1000 (T3) mg kg−1 synthesized polystyrenes nanoplastics (PS‐NPs) for 30 days. At the end of trial, fish fed the PS‐NPs supplementation showed weight gain percentages of 79.45%, 70.35%, and 61.88% for T1, T2, and T3 groups, respectively, compared with 87.39% in the control fish. The SOD, GPX and MDA activities and cortisol levels increased by 47%, 32% and 35% and 46%, respectively, especially at high‐dose administration (p < 0.05). The expression of GPX (T2‐81% and T3‐82%) and SOD (T2‐101% and T3‐187%) were remarkably upregulated in T2 and T3 groups. Moreover, the relative gene expression of HSP70, interleukin‐1 (IL1), Interferon γ (IFN‐γ) and tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) increased by 178%, 202%, 154% and 307%, respectively, especially at high‐dose administration (p < 0.05). The results of the present study demonstrated that exposure to PS‐NPs especially at high concentrations (500 and 1000 mg kg−1 of diet) negatively influenced growth, health status‐, antioxidant‐, and immunity‐related gene expression responses of zebrafish

The Gene Regulatory Roles of Herbal Extracts on the Growth, Immune System, and Reproduction of Fish

The crucial need for safe and healthy aquatic animals obligates researchers in aquaculture to investigate alternative and beneficial additives. Medicinal herbals and their extracts are compromised with diverse effects on the performances of aquatic animals. These compounds can affect growth performance and stimulate the immune system when used in fish diet. In addition, the use of medicinal herbs and their extracts can reduce oxidative stress induced by several stressors during fish culture. Correspondingly, aquatic animals could gain increased resistance against infectious pathogens and environmental stressors. Nevertheless, the exact mode of action where these additives can affect aquatic animals’ performances is still not well documented. Understanding the mechanistic role of herbal supplements and their derivatives is a vital tool to develop further the strategies and application of these additives for feasible and sustainable aquaculture. Gene-related studies have clarified the detailed information on the herbal supplements’ mode of action when administered orally in aquafeed. Several review articles have presented the potential roles of medicinal herbs on the performances of aquatic animals. However, this review article discusses the outputs of studies conducted on aquatic animals fed dietary, medicinal herbs, focusing on the gene expression related to growth and immune performances. Furthermore, a particular focus is directed to the expected influence of herbal supplements on the reproduction of aquatic animals.Medicine, Faculty ofNon UBCReviewedFacultyResearche

Antiparasitic and Antibacterial Functionality of Essential Oils : An Alternative Approach for Sustainable Aquaculture

Using synthetic antibiotics/chemicals for infectious bacterial pathogens and parasitic disease control causes beneficial microbial killing, produces multi-drug resistant pathogens, and residual antibiotic impacts in humans are the major threats to aquaculture sustainability. Applications of herbal products to combat microbial and parasitic diseases are considered as alternative approaches for sustainable aquaculture. Essential oils (EOs) are the secondary metabolites of medicinal plants that possess bioactive compounds like terpens, terpenoids, phenylpropenes, and isothiocyanates with synergistic relationship among these compounds. The hydrophobic compounds of EOs can penetrate the bacterial and parasitic cells and cause cell deformities and organelles dysfunctions. Dietary supplementation of EOs also modulate growth, immunity, and infectious disease resistance in aquatic organisms. Published research reports also demonstrated EOs effectiveness against Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, Gyrodactylus sp., Euclinostomum heterostomum, and other parasites both in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, different infectious fish pathogenic bacteria like Aeromonas salmonicida, Vibrio harveyi, and Streptococcus agalactiae destruction was confirmed by plant originated EOs. However, no research was conducted to confirm the mechanism of action or pathway identification of EOs to combat aquatic parasites and disease-causing microbes. This review aims to explore the effectiveness of EOs against fish parasites and pathogenic bacteria as an environment-friendly phytotherapeutic in the aquaculture industry. Moreover, research gaps and future approaches to use EOs for sustainable aquaculture practice are also postulated