article · Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries
Research investigated using nutraceuticals containing elevated levels of vitamins A, C, E, and zinc to alleviate transportation stress in Nile tilapia. These boosted diets were fed to fish during a fourteen-day acclimatisation period. The study found that fish receiving the boosted diets restored normal behaviour, which included stopping erratic swimming, feeding, and aggressiveness. They also showed increased mucus peroxidase and lysozyme activity. Furthermore, gene expression of antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase and catalase, and immune cytokines, including immunoglobin M-2, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1 beta, and interleukin-10, was significantly enhanced. After eight weeks, these fish exhibited higher initial weights, greater weight gain, and a lower food conversion ratio. The findings suggest that supplementing feed during stressful conditions helps fish regain normal behaviour, improve their antioxidant-immune status, and enhance growth.
This research is important for improving the welfare and productivity of farmed fish, particularly during stressful events like transportation. By enhancing fish health and growth through dietary interventions, it could contribute to more sustainable and efficient aquaculture practices, benefiting producers and consumers.
This applied research indicates a clear pathway for developing specialised feed additives or complete diets for aquaculture. Such products could be used by fish farms to reduce stress and improve growth rates in Nile tilapia, especially during transportation and initial stocking periods. This could lead to commercial nutraceutical formulations for the animal feed industry, offering a practical solution for fish health management.
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To alleviate the stress of fish transportation, nutraceuticals containing one-fold and two-fold of the recommended levels of vitamin A (retinol), vitamin C (ascorbic acid), vitamin E (α-tocopherol) and zinc were added to fish during the acclimatization period (fourteen days). After one day of stocking, fish were fed boosted diets. After the acclimation period, blood parameters and immunity were assessed in addition to experimental bacterial infection. Fish were fed on basal diets for another eight weeks, and growth performance was evaluated. Erratic swimming behavior stopped feeding and aggressiveness. Fish who received boosted diets restored normal behavior during the acclimatization period with a raise of mucus peroxidase activity (0.26 and 0.28 mU/Ml) and mucus lysozyme 3.14 and 3.12 (U/mL). Gene expressions of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase) and immune cytokines (immunoglobin M-2, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1 beta, and interleukin-10) were significantly enhanced with fish receiving boosted diets, compared to those receiving basal diet. Growth performance was assessed in the experimental fish for eight weeks after acclimatization. The initial weights were significantly higher in boosted fish, and they also achieved higher weight gain, with a significant lower food conversion ratio (1.43 and 1.46). Based on the obtained results, boosting feed during stress condition help fish to restore normal behavior, antioxidant-immune status and enhanced growth performance.
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DOI: 10.21608/ejabf.2023.287741
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