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

Effect of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera)seed extract as a dietary supplementation on growth performance immunological haematological biochemical parameters of common carp

This study aimed to assess the effect of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) seed (DPS) extract at 0.5%, 1%, 2% and 4% as a dietary supplement over 60 days, on the growth and immune-physiology of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) fingerlings. The weight gain in fish fed with 0.5% DPS was significantly greater than other treatments and fish fed a control diet with no DPS (p < 0.05). With increasing DPS dosage above 0.5%, weight gain and growth rate gradually declined. Feed conversion ratio in fish fed 0.5% DPS was lower than other treatments, but not significantly so, except for the highest DPS concentration (4%). With respect to immunophysiological variables, fish treated with 0.5% DPS leucocyte, neutrophil, lymphocyte and monocyte counts that were generally equivalent to fish on a control diet, but significantly lower than fish treated with greater concentrations of DPS (p < 0.05). Chemilumincene response and lysozyme activity, as well as levels of total protein and albumin, were higher in all treated groups than the control. The highest levels of iron and high density lipoprotein (HDL) were observed in fish fed with 0.5% DPS, while the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein (LDH), thyrotropin, thyroxine and triiodothyronine were lower level in fish fed with 0.5% DPS than in all other treatments. In aquaculture practice, use of 0.5% DPS in commercial carp feed can improve the growth rate and condition of fish