Effects of different levels of dietary glucosamine on some growth performance, serum immune and biochemical indices of Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii)

This study was performed to evaluate the effects of different dietary levels of glucosamine on growth performance, serum biochemical and immune indices of Siberian sturgeon. Fish (9.3 ± 0.4 g initial weight) in 12 fiberglass tanks with a density of 15 fish/tank were randomly distributed and fed with different levels of glucosamine including: 0 (control), 250, 750 and 1500 mg per kg of diet (C0, T250, T750 and T1500, respectively) for 56 days. Based on the results, the highest final weight (63.1 ± 1.6 g), weight gain (54.14 ± 1.82 g), body weight increase (558.28 ± 23.23%), and specific growth rate (3.36 ± 0.08%/day) were observed in T1500 compared to the other treatments (p 0.05). The results of the serum immune indices exhibited that the highest levels of IgM (38.1 ± 0.5 mg/dL), C3 (5.20 ± 0.17 mg/dL) and C4 (20.72 ± 1.0 mg/dL) were observed in T1500 compared to other experimental treatments (p < 0.05). On the other hand, by increasing glucosamine concentration, the activity of hepatic enzymes including aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase was decreased and the lowest levels were observed in T1500 (p < 0.05). In conclusion, glucosamine, especially at the level of 1500 mg/kg of diet, displayed positive effects on the growth and immune indices of juvenile Siberian sturgeon

Effects of different amounts of dietary carrot meal beta-carotene on some blood parameters in Caspian brown trout (Salmo caspius Kessler, 1877) fingerlings

Caspian brown trout is one of the valuable, commercial, anadromous, and endemic species of the Caspian Sea, which has noteworthy the attention of many scientists. This study was carried out using Caspian brown trout fingerlings (n = 300) with an initial average weight of 42 g for two months. In this study, different amounts of carrot powder (total carotenoids) were added to fish diets including a control group and five treatments i.e. 0 (control), 50 (T1), 100 (T2), 150 (T3), 200 (T4) and 250 mg/kg (T5). The effects of different amounts of carotenoids were investigated on some blood parameters of fingerlings, including lysozyme, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, aminotransferase, glucose, total protein, and cortisol. According to the results, significant differences (p<0.05) were observed in the amounts of serum lysozyme between different treatments. Treatment 2 by an average of 51 ± 3.61 U/mL and control group by 40.67 ± 2.52 U/mL exhibited the highest and lowest levels of the enzyme, respectively. Based on the results, a significant difference (p<0.05) was observed between different levels of cortisol in the treatments, so that the highest and lowest cortisol levels in the control group and treatment 2 with 50 ± 7 and 26.67 ± 4.04 (ng/mL) was observed. In general, based on the results of this study, it was found that different levels of carotenoids in the diet of salmon brown trout can display a significant effect (p<0.05) on blood indices

Dietary effects of lemon Citrus limon peel essential oil encapsulated in chitosan nanoparticles on hematological indices and antioxidant defense system of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary levels of lemon essential oil encapsulated in chitosan nanoparticles on hematological indices and antioxidant status of rainbow trout fry. Accordingly, the fish (4.74 ± 0.14 g in weight) were distributed in 12 fiberglass tanks with 20 fish per tank and were fed with different levels of lemon essential oil loaded in chitosan nanoparticles including control group with no additive (C0%), 0.5% (T0.5%), 0.75% (T0.75%) and 1% (T1%) for 8 weeks in triplicates. The results showed that the highest number of RBC was in T0.75% compared to T0.5% and C0% (p<0.05). The maximum hemoglobin value was observed in T1% and T0.75% compared to the other experimental groups (p<0.05). In addition, in terms of the blood indices, MCH index showed a significant increase in T1% and T0.75% compared to the other treatments. The maximum WBC and lymphocytes were observed in T1% compared to the other experimental groups (p<0.05). Serum antioxidant enzymes showed the highest catalase activity and glutathione peroxidase in T1% compared to the other groups (p<0.05). Furthermore, superoxide dismutase activity elevated significantly only in T1% compared to C0% (p<0.05). However, the oral administration of 0.75% and 1% of lemon peel essential encapsulated with nanochitosan resulted in a significant elevation in the serum malondialdehyde compared to T0.5% and C0% (p<0.05). Overall, the results of this study showed that the addition of lemon essential oil encapsulated in chitosan nanoparticles, especially at 1%, can enhance the hematological indices and antioxidant defense system of rainbow trout

The Effect of Replacing Fish Meal in the Diet with Enzyme-Treated Soybean Meal (HP310) on Growth and Body Composition of Rainbow Trout Fry

The potential of enzyme-treated soybean meal powder (HP310) as fish meal alternative in diets for rainbow trout weighing 1.17 ± 0.3 g was evaluated for 60 days. Fish meal was replaced with HP310 at 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of experimental diets. A control group was also considered. The results showed that diets containing 75% and 100% HP310 had significantly higher feed conversion ratio and lower feed intake, weight gain and specific growth rate compared to fish feed diets containing higher levels of fish protein ingredients (p &lt; 0.05). Results suggested use of 50% HP310 in trout diet had a positive effect on growth performance (p &lt; 0.05). All fish feed diets with HP310 had lower hematocrit, hemoglobin and red blood cells compared to the control group, but the differences between the control and the other treatments up to 75% HP310 replacement levels of diet (p &gt; 0.05). However increasing in level of HP310 in the diet caused a significant increase of the white blood cells (p &lt; 0.05). The fish fed with a diet totally replaced by HP310 showed the highest values of ash and moisture content among the diets and showed significantly different levels when compared with the control and other feeding treatments (p &lt; 0.05)

Assessment of dietary chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus) fruit extract on growth performance, hemato-biochemical parameters, and mRNA levels of growth and appetite-related genes in goldfish (Carassius auratus)

In this study, the effect of oral administration of chaste tree fruit (CTF) extract was evaluated on growth performance, hematological indices, serum biochemical parameters, and the expression of growth and appetite-related genes in goldfish (Carassius auratus). The fry (N = 300; 2.40 ± 0.12 g) were randomly dispersed into 12 aquaria and fed with different levels of CTF extract (0 (control), 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5%) for 56 days. At the end of the trial, the highest body weight gain and the lowest feed conversion ratio were observed in the fish fed with 1.5% CTF extract (P  0.05). The levels of aspartate transaminase and lactate dehydrogenase were decreased by increasing the supplementation levels of CTF extract and the lowest values were obtained in 1.5% CTF extract diet (P < 0.05). The expression of growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor 1, and ghrelin genes was significantly up-regulated in the fish fed with 1.5% CTF extract compared to other treatments (P < 0.05). Overall, the enrichment of goldfish diet with 1.5% CTF extract could interfere positively in the growth-related traits and hematological parameters

Dietary green-synthesized curcumin-mediated zinc oxide nanoparticles promote growth performance, haemato-biochemical profile, antioxidant status, immunity, and carcass quality in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

This study evaluated the effect of dietary curcumin-assisted green synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (CUR-ZnONPs) on growth performance, haemato-biochemical profile, antioxidant capacity, immune response, carcass composition, and bioaccumulation of Zn in Nile tilapia. The fish (‎16.20 ± 1.02 g‎) were fed with diets enriched with 0 (CZP1), 5 (CZP2), 7.5 (CZP3), and 10 (CZP4) mg/kg CUR-ZnONPs for 56 days and then challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila. The highest growth performance (final weight, weight gain, and specific growth rate) and the lowest feed conversion ratio were recorded in CZP4 (P  0.05). The mortality rate of the fish infected with A. hydrophila was significantly lower in the group that received CZP4 compared to the other experimental groups (P < 0.05). The principal component analysis demonstrated that the fish fed with CUR-ZnONPs have significantly higher growth performance, immune responses, and antioxidant status than the fish fed with the control diet. Overall, it is suggested to use dietary CUR-ZnONPs, especially at 10 mg/kg, as a beneficial feed supplement to improve growth performance, antioxidant status, and immune parameters in Nile tilapia