article · Aquaculture Research
This study evaluated the effects of adding chitosan to the feed of Nile tilapia, assessing growth performance, body composition, immune response, and resistance to Streptococcus agalactiae infection. Researchers tested three feeding regimes on 180 fish: a control diet with no chitosan, and diets containing either 3 grams or 5 grams of chitosan per kilogram of feed. Fish fed the 5-gram concentration showed significant improvements in growth parameters, feed conversion ratio, and body composition, alongside higher serum protein, albumin, and globulin levels before infection. Following experimental infection with Streptococcus agalactiae, fish receiving chitosan diets exhibited lower liver enzyme levels, indicating reduced tissue stress, and higher lysozyme and bactericidal activities. Notably, mortality was significantly reduced in fish fed 3 grams per kilogram and completely prevented in those fed 5 grams per kilogram.
Bacterial infections such as Streptococcus agalactiae pose serious risks to farmed fish, leading to high mortality and economic losses. Demonstrating that chitosan acts as a natural feed additive to boost immunity and enhance growth offers fish farmers a viable method to strengthen disease resistance, protect fish health, and potentially reduce reliance on conventional antibiotics in aquaculture.
This research provides applied and tested laboratory evidence for fish feed manufacturers and aquaculture producers looking to formulate functional feeds. Chitosan could be utilised as an immunostimulant and growth-promoting additive in Nile tilapia farming. However, while proven effective in controlled experimental trials, further field validation and economic assessments would be required before broader commercial adoption in commercial fish farming operations.
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The present investigation aimed to evaluate the effect of dietary chitosan supplementation on growth performance, body composition, immune response and histopathology of Nile tilapia, and also the in vitro antibacterial activity of chitosan against Streptococcus agalactiae (S. agalactiae). About 180 fish (average body weight 39.3 ± 0.3 g) were randomly divided into three groups according to chitosan supplementation: control group (basal diet without chitosan), Ch3 group (3 g chitosan/kg diet) and Ch5 group (5 g chitosan/kg diet). Growth performance parameters and body proximate composition were measured before infection but biochemical parameters and lysozyme and antibacterial activities before and after experimental infection. Results of the present investigation showed dietary chitosan (5 g chitosan/kg diet) significantly (p < .05) improved growth performance parameters, body composition (dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, ash, and carbohydrate) and serum biochemistry (total protein, albumin, globulin, with no effect on AST, ALT, urea and creatinine) before infection in Ch5 group than the control. After infection, liver enzymes (serum AST and ALT) were maintained lower in fish fed Ch3 or Ch5 than the control. Serum lysozyme and bactericidal activities significantly increased (p < .05) in chitosan groups before and after the challenge. The mortality rate was markedly reduced in the Ch3 group and prohibited in the Ch5 group after the experimental infection. In conclusion, feeding 3 or 5 g chitosan/kg diet increased the growth rate and improved FCR of Nile tilapia. In addition, it reduced mortality by its antibacterial and immunostimulant effects.
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DOI: 10.1111/are.14458
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