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Effects of dietary cecropin on growth, non‐specific immunity and disease resistance of tilapia ( O reochromis niloticus × O . aureus )
Author(s) -
Lin Xin,
Chen Wenyan,
Lin Shimei,
Luo Lin
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
aquaculture research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.646
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1365-2109
pISSN - 1355-557X
DOI - 10.1111/are.12457
Subject(s) - cecropin , oreochromis , biology , tilapia , lysozyme , aeromonas veronii , streptococcus iniae , immunity , alkaline phosphatase , catalase , superoxide dismutase , zoology , food science , microbiology and biotechnology , immune system , biochemistry , immunology , fish <actinopterygii> , enzyme , aeromonas , fishery , bacteria , antimicrobial , antimicrobial peptides , genetics
An 8‐week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary cecropin on growth performance, non‐specific immunity and disease resistance of hybrid tilapia ( O reochromis niloticus × O . aureus ). A basal diet was supplemented with 0 (control), 75, 150 and 225 mg kg −1 cecropin to formulate four experimental diets. The results showed that final body weight and specific growth rate obtained with diet 150 mg kg −1 cecropin were significantly higher ( P < 0.05) than that obtained with diets 0 and 75 mg kg −1 , whereas there was no difference between 150 and 225 mg kg −1 . Feed conversion efficiency was improved by increasing the dietary cecropin content ( P < 0.05). However, feeding intake was reduced as dietary cecropin increased. Serum lysozyme, alkaline phosphatase, catalase and superoxide dismutase activity were significantly increased with the increased levels of dietary cecropin ( P < 0.05), and reached a maximum at level of 150 mg kg −1 cecropin, then those values no longer increased. Moreover, the dietary cecropin supplementation level also exhibited a decrease in the cumulative mortality rates compared with the controls when challenged with A eromonas veronii . The results suggested that the dietary supplementation of cecropin could improve the growth, non‐specific immunity indicators and resistance of hybrid tilapia against A . veronii .