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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Mar. Sci.
Sec. Marine Fisheries, Aquaculture and Living Resources
Volume 11 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fmars.2024.1473053
This article is part of the Research Topic Towards Sustainable Marine Aquaculture: Innovations and Eco-Friendly Practices View all 3 articles

Growth, immunomodulatory, histopathological, and antibacterial of phytobiotics-incorporated diets for Oreochromis niloticus against un-exchanged water

Provisionally accepted
Amr Fadel Amr Fadel 1Mohamed M. Metwally Mohamed M. Metwally 2Adel A. Abdelmageed Adel A. Abdelmageed 1Mohamed F. Abdel-Aziz Mohamed F. Abdel-Aziz 3*
  • 1 National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF), Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt
  • 2 Zagazig University, Zagazig, Al Sharqia, Egypt
  • 3 Arish University, Elarish, Egypt

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Phytobiotics are promising diet alternatives, yet their effectiveness under high-risk aquaculture conditions remains underexplored. Therefore, A 90-day feeding trial was conducted based on dietary supplementation of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus with herbal extracts; Lemon balm Melissa officinalis (MOE), Marjoram Origanum majorana (OME), and Chamomil Matricaria chamomilla (MCE) with 0% water change. The treated groups were compared to untreated groups with herbs or control groups (Positive control (PC: 0% water change) and Negative control NC: (20% as water exchange rate/two days). Fish were cultured at stocking density (20 fish m -3 : 1.8kg of biomass/m3). Together, the physicochemical analysis of the water, clinical responses, growth, and immune responses were evaluated. Furthermore, the herbal-supplemented fish were then challenged with a pathogenic Edwardseilla tarda strain, then mortality was monitored. In the 1 st and 2 nd months, the water parameters were within the permissible limits. After that, a fatally lower dissolved oxygen concentration and the highest levels of ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH were recorded during the 3 rd month. The herbal-treated groups appeared healthy, but during the 3 rd month, lethargy and decreased appetite were evident. Apparent activities of blood and immunoassays were mainly obtained in treated groups and control groups. The herbal-treated groups appeared healthy, but during the 3rd month, lethargy and decreased appetite were evident. Generally, herbal-treated fish showed improved growth performance parameters, survival rates, and resistance against pathogenic bacteria Edwardseilla tarda, particularly in the OME and MOE-treated groups compared to the positive control group. Lastly, phytobiotic supplements have been shown to improve fish stress tolerance, and immune activation for a certain period under stressful conditions or un-exchanged water, basad on the stocking density, dosages of herbs used, and the extent of deterioration of water quality.

    Keywords: Oreochromis niloticus, Melissa officinalis, Origanum majorana, Matricaria chamomilla, unchanged water

    Received: 30 Jul 2024; Accepted: 09 Oct 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Fadel, Metwally, Abdelmageed and Abdel-Aziz. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Mohamed F. Abdel-Aziz, Arish University, Elarish, Egypt

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.