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Abstract The performance, efficiency of consumed feed, body chemical composition, survival rate, antioxidant and immunity parameters of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) reared in probiotic-treated water were studied. Two hundred apparently healthy Nile tilapia (20 ± 0.3 g) juveniles were reared for 70 days in five different treatments, with five replications as the control group (clean water) and four test groups with two probiotics strains (Bacillus toyonensis and Geobacillus stearothermophilus) at two different levels (1 or 2 × 105 CFU ml−1) applied in rearing water. Fish reared in water supplemented with G. stearothermophilus at low level demonstrated significantly enhanced (p

A 14-week feeding study was conducted to assess the effects of feed supplementation with prebiotics β-glucan (BG group) and/or probiotics Bacillus coagulans (BC group) on O. niloticus growth performance, body analysis, intestinal structure, immunological response, and antioxidant status. The fish were equally divided into six groups, as follows: the fish group fed an un-supplemented diet served as a control group; the other fish groups were fed supplemented diets with 0.1 g β-glucan kg−1; 1 g Bacillus coagulans kg−1; 2 g B. coagulans kg−1; 0.1 g β-glucan combined with 1 g B. coagulans kg−1; 0.1 g β-glucan combined with 2 g B. coagulans kg−1. The findings revealed that supplementing B. coagulans and the β-glucan mixture improved growth performance and feed efficiency parameters (RGR and SGR) more than the other groups. The fish flesh analysis revealed increased crude protein and dry matter content and lower lipid and ash levels in the BG and BC supplemented groups than in the Control group. On the other hand, β-glucan and B. coagulans supplementation significantly boosted antioxidant activity and immunological responses in serum as determined by CAT, MDA, lysozyme, and phagocytic activity. Dietary β-glucan and B. coagulans supplementation remarkedly enhanced anterior intestine villus histomorphometry characteristics. Furthermore, B. coagulans, alone or in combination with β-glucan, could reduce HSP70 and IL-1β gene expression while increasing IL-8 and GH gene expression. According to the findings, B. coagulans and/or BG increased growth performance by increasing gut health and morphology. Furthermore, β-glucan and B. coagulans supplementation enhanced Tilapia's body composition, immunological responses, and antioxidant status.

The current research sought to assess the effects of paulownia leaves extract (PLE) on performance, blood hematological, antioxidant activity, and immunological response of broiler chicken. In total, two hundred 1-day-old male Cobb500 chicks were allocated randomly into four equal treatments with 5 replicates. The first treatment served as a control (CNT) and was fed the basal diet only, while the other treated treatments were fed on the basal diet supplemented with 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 g/kg diet of PLE, respectively. The performance results showed significant increments (P < 0.05) in live body weight (LBW), weight gain (WG), and European production efficiency factors (EPEIs) (linearly; p < 0.001) in cooperated with increasing PLE levels in broiler diets. At the same time, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and livability percentages were numerically enhanced under the effects of PLE supplementation. Moreover, a notable increase (P < 0.05 or 0.01) in oxidative remarks activity (GSH, glutathione; SOD, super oxide-dismutase and CAT, catalase) and elevated levels of immunoglobulin (IgM, immunoglobulin M and IgG, immunoglobulin G) were noted (P < 0.05) for treatments fed with PLE in a dose-dependent manner. Also, a dramatic linear increase was observed in mRNA expression of IGF-1, GHR, IL-1β, and IL-10 genes of broiler chickens. This study concluded that enriched broiler feeds with 0.5 g/kg PLE might be a beneficial strategy to promote broiler health and production.

Eight-week oral administration of Padina australis ethyl acetate extract at 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg diets was assessed on the growth performance, tight junction proteins, intestinal immunity, and disease resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila in common carp (Cyprinus carpio). A total of 300 healthy common carp weighing around 14.8 ± 0.03 g were randomly assigned into four equal groups within 12 glass aquariums, each in three replicates (25 fish/tank), for the feeding trial experiment. The first group served as the control group and was fed an un-supplemented diet, whilst the other three groups were offered diets containing graded amounts of Padina australis ethyl acetate extract at 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, respectively. The growth indices, including final weight, length, weight gain rate, specific growth rate, and feed conversion ratio, were meaningfully improved in fish fed with the algae at 200 and 400 mg/kg compared to the control fish (p < 0.05). Similarly, digestive enzyme activities and serum immune parameters were significantly higher in all treatments, especially 200 and 400 mg/kg fed groups, compared to the control (p < 0.05). In parallel, significant upregulation of genes related to integrity and the immune system was shown in the intestine of these treatment groups compared to control fish (p < 0.05). When fish were challenged with A. hydrophila, the cumulative survival percentages were 53.3% (p = 0.215), 70.0 % (p = 0.009), and 76.7% (p = 0.002) in fish fed 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg diets, respectively, compared to 36.7% survival in control fish (p = 0.134). These data show that the eight-week dietary administration of P. australis extract to common carp can enhance growth performance, digestive enzyme activity, immune response, and disease resistance to A. hydrophila infection.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the beneficial effect of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC) on growth, intestinal morphometric characteristics, blood indices, redox balance, expression of immune-related genes, and their involvement in disease resistance in sea bream (Sparus aurata). Three hundred healthy sea bream fingerlings were allocated into equal four groups (15 fish per hapa). The first group was served as a control and received a basal diet, while the other three groups were fed diets containing 1, 2, and 4 g/kg diet SC, respectively. At the end of week 16, the daily weight gain, specific growth rate, and feed utilization were significantly higher in the SC2 and SC4 groups than the control (p < 0.05). SC dose-dependently improved intestinal morphology, and the 4 g/kg diet significantly increased dry matter, crude fat, and crude protein percentage of body composition when compared with the control group. The 4 g/kg SC boosted innate immune response and phagocytic activity, and all SC-supplemented diets improved total protein, glucose, triglycerides, and urea concentrations, as well as intestinal digestive enzymatic activities. All estimated oxidative markers were significantly enhanced in the group that received 4 g/kg SC when compared with the control and other SC groups (p < 0.05). Feeding the fish a diet supplemented with 4 g/kg SC markedly regulated the expression of HSP70, IGF1, and IL-1β genes. In addition, the 4 g/kg SC-supplemented diet was the most effective in protecting the fish against Vibrio parahaemolyticus challenge. In conclusion, SC-enriched diet improved growth performance, intestinal morphology, redox homeostasis, and immune response of S. aurata with the 4 g/kg concentration as the most effective.