Effect of dietary Lagnaria breviflora leaves extract on the growth performance, haematological, antioxidative  and immune responses of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) juveniles

AbstractThe effects of dietaryLagnaria breviflora leaves extract (LBLE) on the growth performance, feed utilisation  and haematological parameters of juveniles African catfish,Clarias gariepinus (mean  = 8.45 ± 0.6 g) raised in a flow water (mean temperature 26.7°C, mean pH 7.52, mean dissolved oxygen 6.05 mg/L) were assessed in this study. Diets (400 g/kg crude protein; 4631.5 kcal/kg gross energy) supplemented with LBLE at levels of 0 (control), 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 or 2.0 g/kg di et were served to fish in triplicates (each replicate has 20 fish) until they appeared satiated for 12 weeks. Then, they were challenged withAeromonas hydrophila infection for further 2  weeks. Fish served dietary LBLE had considerable higher weight gain (64.76 g) and specific growth rate (765.5% g/day) than the fish group fed with the control diet with a reduced feed conversion ratio (1.45) (p <  0.05). Compared to fish fed with the control diet, the villi height (146.30 µm) and width (284.35 µm) of the intestines increased greatly in a dose (LBLE in diets) dependent order. Similarly, dietary LBLE increased (p <  0.05) the packed cell volume (46.11%) and haemoglobin (17.03 g/dL), whereas 1.5 g of LBLE increased the counts of white blood cells. GlutathioneS-transferase (769.43  U/mg protein), glutathione peroxidase (84.14 U/mg protein) and superoxide dismutase (433.15 U/mg protein) activities were significantly higher (p <  0.05) in fish fed ...
Source: Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition - Category: Zoology Authors: Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research