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Probiotics are helpful bacteria that safeguard host animals from harmful pathogens. In fish farming, the primary aim of using probiotics is to preserve or reestablish a balance between pathogenic microorganisms and the native bacteria that constitute the intestinal and skin microbial communities of fish. This study investigates the effects of host-associated probiotic (HAP) vs commercial probiotic (CP) on the growth performance, antioxidant defense and immunity of Caspian whitefish fry. Three hundred whitefish fry (1.15 ± 0.03 g) were randomly divided into five treatments in triplicate. Treatments included feeding with the control group (zero), P. acidilactici as a commercial probiotic (CP) at 6 × 108 CFU g -1, and HA Pediococcus pentosaceus at 106, 107 and 108 CFU g-1 for eight weeks. Dietary HAP and CP did not have significant effects on growth indices compared to the control group (P > 0.05). However, HAP at 107 and 108 CFU g-1 and CP significantly increased protein in whitefish carcasses compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Different levels of HAP and CP had a significant effect on whole-body extract (WBE) lysozyme (LZM) activity (P < 0.05). HAP treatment significantly increased WBE ACH50 and bactericidal activity compared to the control and CP group (P < 0.05). Also, in the case of mucosal immune response, different levels of HAP could significantly increase LZM, total immunoglobulin (Ig), agglutination titer, protease and alkaline phosphatase activity compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Whitefish fed HAP showed a significant increase in the activity of WBE antioxidant parameters (SOD, CAT and GPx) compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Also, feeding with HAP could significantly increase autochthonous LAB levels compared control group (P < 0.05); while the total count of intestinal heterotrophic bacteria was not affected (P > 0.05). Overall, the present study showed HA Pediococcus pentosaceus can be considered as beneficial feed additive for whitefish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel technologically advanced fermented wheat gluten and yeast sourced protein (FWPC) co-product utilising Saccharomyces cerevivisiae yeast was evaluated for juvenile Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. The protein component of a semi-purified basal diet (control treatment) was incrementally replaced by Fermented Wheat Protein Concentrate (FWPC) at 10%, 20%, and 30% of total dietary protein to create a slope-assay response to the test ingredient compared to an ‘ideal protein’ essential amino acid EAA balanced source. After an 8-week feeding trial, tilapia fed 10% and 20% FWPC displayed similar performance to those fed the control FM based diet, while fish fed 30% FWPC gave the lowest growth performance (P ≤ 0.05) compared to the other treatments. Proximate composition analysis showed that body protein, lipid, ash, NFE and gross energy were unaffected by dietary treatment (P ≥ 0.05). Both plasma alanine aminotranferase (ALAT) and aspartate aminotranferase (ASAT) were measured as indicators of hepatic function in Nile tilapia. No effects were seen in ALAT and ASAT activities. Tilapia fed 30% FWPC showed reduced HSI (P ≤ 0.05) compared to the other treatments. Additionally, histological comparisons of liver and intestinal tissues gave no indication of impairment to health, but FWPC inclusion elevated the number of goblet cells present in the posterior intestine (P ≤ 0.05). Ultrastructure of microvilli height and density also increased significantly showing functional aspects of FWPC. This study reveals the potential benefits of utilising a potable alcohol derived FWPC on the growth and feed utilisation performance of Nile tilapia, with no apparent adverse impacts on general health and physiological status as determined by gut and liver function and related plasma metabolic status. The results are discussed in the context of a promising protein ingredients source for tropical fish aquaculture.

This study evaluates the impact of dietary supplementation of the blue-green alga Arthrospira platensis NIOF17/003 nanoparticles (AN) on the growth performance, whole-body biochemical compositions, blood biochemistry, steroid hormonal, and fry production efficiency of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) broodstock, during the spawning season. After a 21-day preparation period to equip the females and ensure that their ovaries were filled with eggs, mating between the mature females and males took place in a 3:1 ratio during a 14-day spawning cycle. A total of 384 tilapia broodstock 288 females and 96 males with an initial body weight of 450.53±0.75, were divided into four groups; AN0: a basal diet as a control group with no supplementation of Arthrospira platensis, and the other three groups (AN2, AN4, and AN6) were diets supplemented with nanoparticles of A. platensis at levels of 2, 4, and 6 g kg─1 diet, respectively. The results found that fish-fed group AN6 showed the highest significant differences in weight gain (WG), final weight (FW), feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), and feed efficiency ratio (FER). Females fed the AN6 diet showed the highest significant fat content. Compared to the AN0 group, fish fed on the supplemented diets showed significant improvement (p < 0.05) in triglyceride, glucose, and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). A gradual increase in AN inclusion level resulted in a gradual increase in the concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone, progesterone, and prolactin. The rates (%) of increase in fry production for females fed supplemented diets were 10.5, 18.6, and 32.2% for AN2, AN4, and AN6, respectively, compared to the control group. This work concluded that the inclusion levels of 6 g kg─1 of A. platensis nanoparticles in the diet of Nile tilapia broodstock significantly improved the growth performances, steroid hormone concentrations, and increased the fry production efficiency by 32.2%, respectively. These findings revealed that A. platensis nanoparticles resulted in a significantly enhanced female' reproductive productivity of Nile tilapia broodstock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study aimed to assess the influence of dietary inclusion of cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis NIOF17/003 as a dry material and as a free-lipid biomass (FL) on the growth performance, body composition, redox status, immune responses, and gene expression of whiteleg shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei postlarvae. L. vannamei were fed five different supplemented diets; the first group was fed on an un-supplemented diet as a negative control group (C-N), the second group was fed on a commercial diet supplemented with 2% of A. platensis complete biomass as a positive control group (C-P20), whereas, the three remaining groups were fed on a commercial diet supplemented with graded amounts of FL at 1%, 2%, and 3% (FL10, FL20, and FL30, respectively). The obtained results indicated that the diet containing 1% FL significantly increased the growth performance, efficiency of consumed feed, and survival percentage of L. vannamei compared to both C-N and C-P20 groups. As for the carcass analysis, diets containing A. platensis or its FL at higher levels significantly increased the protein, lipid, and ash content compared to the C-N group. Moreover, the shrimp group fed on C-P20 and FL10 gave significantly stimulated higher digestive enzyme activities compared with C-N. The shrimp fed C-P20 or FL exhibited higher innate immune responses and promoted their redox status profile. Also, the shrimp fed a low FL levels significantly upregulated the expression of both the peroxiredoxin (Prx) and prophenoloxidase (PPO1) genes than those receiving C-N. The current results recommended that dietary supplementation with 1% FL is the most effective treatment in promoting the performance and immunity of whiteleg shrimp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aquafeed industry faces many challenges, including reducing the cost of feed by reducing the quantity of fish meal and soybean meal and researching to replace them with other ingredients lower in cost. Furthermore, new low-cost feeds must improve growth and feed utilization while also ensuring fish health. During the past few decades, researchers have shown one of the low-cost and with appropriate nutritional value alternative protein sources to replace fish meal (FM) or soybean meal (SBM) is dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS). Recently, the production of grain-based ethanol as a fuel additive has been increasing as the demand for biofuel has increased, and lessening dependency on fossil fuels has resulted in a dramatic rise in the amount of grains used for ethanol. DDGS are the primary co-product of dry-grind fuel ethanol plants. DDGS has the advantages of having high protein, fat, phosphorus, yield, and low cost. These valuable particles attributed to DDGS have raised controversy amongst feed nutritionists as to how they can proficiently replace fish meal or soybean meal. It has been discovered that DDGS can be replaced with fish meal or soybean meal without affecting growth. Therefore, the present review discusses the effects of dietary DDGS application in the fish feed formulation, the best dietary presence, the possible advantages in fish health, nutrient retention, and the economic benefits of DDGS application in aquafeeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]