Effects of dietary copper nanoparticles and vitamin C supplementations on growth performance, immune response and stress resistance of red sea bream, Pagrus major.

A 60-day feeding trial was conducted to determine the effects of copper nanoparticles (Cu- NPs) and vitamin C ( VC) on red sea bream. Besides the control diet (D1), six diets were supplemented with Cu- NPs and VC [0/800 (D2), 0/1,000 (D3), 0/1,200 (D4), 2/800 (D5), 2/1,000 (D6) and 2/1,200 (D7) mg Cu- NPs/ VC per kg]. Cu- NP was a significant factor on final weight ( FBW), weight gain ( WG) and specific growth rate ( SGR), feed intake ( FI), feed ( FER) and protein efficiency ratios ( PER), protein gain ( PG) and protein retention ( PR), body protein and lipid contents, protease ( PA) and bactericidal activities ( BA) and tolerance against stress ( LT50%) ( p < .05). In addition, BA and LT50% were significantly affected by either Cu- NPs or VC ( p < .05). Fish fed Cu- NPs or/and VC-supplemented diets showed higher FBW, WG, SGR, PG, PR, FI, PA, LA and BA values when compared with the control group ( p < .05). FER, PER and body lipid content were significantly enhanced in D4, D5, D6 and D7 groups; meanwhile, body protein and LT50% were significantly enhanced in D5, D6 and D7 groups when compared with D1 group ( p < .05). In conclusion, dietary Cu- NPs or/and VC improved growth and health of red sea bream. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]