Oreochromis niloticus, weighing 36.45 ± 1.12 g were exposed to 10%, 20% and 30% of the LC50 of CdCl2 which represents treatments (T1)1.68, (T2)3.36 and (T3)5.03 mg/l, respectively, for a period of 10, 20 and 30 days. It was found that, compared to a control group reading of 0.19 ± 0.03 μg/g dry weight, accumulation of Cd in the gills was significantly (p < 0.05) increased in samples ranging between 7.64 ± 0.86 and 61.73 ± 0.82 μg/g dry weight from T1 at 10 days to T3 at 30 days. The accumulation of Cd in the liver, meanwhile, was also observed to significantly increase (p < 0.05) with increasing time and concentrations with results ranging between 3.21 ± 0.12 and 181.61 ± 1.32 compared to the control group results of 0.29 ± 0.04 μg/g dry weight. Although muscles exhibited lower levels of accumulation than the gills and liver they still showed the same pattern of increase compared to the control group, with a significant difference ranging between 0.32 ± 0.02 and 2.16 ± 0.08 compared to the control group results of 0.03 ± 0.001 μg/g dry weight. Also, haematological parameters such as red blood cells (RBCs), haemoglobin (Hb) and haematocrit (Hct) were reduced in fish exposed to Cd at all periods, with significant differences (p < 0.05). Plasma glucose concentration showed a significant increase. Total protein levels of fish showed a significant reduction (p > 0.05) for all exposed treatments. Also, the total lipid level increased significantly as fish were exposed to increasing cadmium concentrations, compared to control fish. Finally, the activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST IU/l) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT IU/l) showed a significant increase (p < 0.05) with increasing time and concentrations.

SummaryThis study evaluated the growth performance and body composition of Oreochromis niloticus fingerlings (average initial weight 16.53 ± 0.44 g) fed 9 experimental diets (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H and I) containing three different levels of protein (26, 31 and 36 g 100 g )1 ) at three different gross energy (GE) levels (16, 19 and 22 MJ kg) for a period of 64 days. Significant differences were observed in the feed consumption, body weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR), condition factor (k), feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), net protein retention (NPR) and apparent net energy retention (ANER) values of fish when the energy level of diet was increased at different protein levels. The maximum weight gain, SGR and k were observed on diet F containing 36% protein and an energy level of 19 MJ kg )1 of dry feed with a protein to energy (P ⁄ E) ratio of 18.96 (g protein MJ )1 GE). A further increase in the energy content of the diet (22 MJ kg )1 ) at the same protein level (Diet I) did not produce any improvement in the growth performance. Lowering the energy level at the same protein level significantly affected the growth performance. Fish fed diet B containing 31% protein and a lower energy level of 16 MJ kg )1 with the same P ⁄ E ratio of 18.61 as diet F showed significantly lower weight gain and growth performance than diet F. Diets E and H containing 31% crude protein at all three energy levels produced similar results as diet B. The poorest FCR was observed when the diet contained both lower levels of protein and energy. Fish fed diet G, containing 26% protein at high energy level (22 MJ kg ). The body moisture content at all protein levels decreased (P < 0.05) with the increasing level of dietary energy whereas the body fat content increased (P < 0.05). Similar trends were observed in the body ash and energy content. Increasing the dietary energy content at lower protein levels did not show any difference (P > 0.05) in body protein content. Our results indicated the optimum P ⁄ E ratio for O. niloticus as 18.96 g protein per mega joule of gross energy at 36% dietary protein level and a dietary gross energy value of 19 MJ kg )1.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of diet containing the green macroalgae, Ulva lactuca, on the growth performance, feed utilization and body composition of African catfish Clarias gariepinus. Four experimental diets were formulated: D1 as a control group and D2, D3 and D4 which included 10%, 20% and 30% U. lactuca meal, respectively. 180 African catfish, weighing 9.59 ± 0.43 g, and with an average length of 11.26 ± 0.21, (mean ± SE) were divided into four groups corresponding to the different feeding regimes. The final body weight of the fish showed insignificant differences (P > 0.05) between the control and fish fed D2, whereas, there was a significant difference (P < 0.05) between these two diets compared with D3 and D4, with weights of 70.52, 60.92, 40.57 and 35.66 g recorded for D1, D2, D3 and D4, respectively. In the same trend significant differences were also evident in weight gain, specific growth rate and feed utilization. Fish fed with a diet containing 20% or 30% U. lactuca meal had poorer growth performance and feed utilization. Protein productive value, protein efficiency ratio, daily dry feed intake and total feed intake were also significantly lower in fish fed with D3 and D4 than in the control D1 and D2. Overall, the results of the experiment revealed that African catfish fed a diet with U. lactuca included at 20% and 30% levels showed poorer growth and feed utilization than the control group and fish fed diets containing 10% of U. lactuca.

-In this study, we evaluated the growth performance and body composition of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fed five isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets (A, B, C, D and E) containing varying levels of carbohydrates (18.27-40.37%) and lipids (8.14-19.53%) with carbohydrate-to-lipid (CHO/LIP) ratios ranging from 4.95 to 0.94. Significant (P < 0.05) differences were observed in the body weight gain, condition factor, specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), net protein retention (NPR) and apparent net energy retention (ANER) values of fish fed diets with different CHO/LIP ratios. The A, B and C diets with CHO/LIP ratios ranging from 4.95 to 2.06 did not result in any difference (P > 0.05) in fish performance. Decreasing the CHO/LIP ratio to 1.38 (diet D) significantly (P < 0.05) reduced growth rate and feed efficiency. A further decrease in the CHO/LIP ratio to 0.94 (diet E), however, did not affect (P > 0.05) these values any more. The hepatosomatic index (HSI) increased with a decrease in the CHO/LIP ratio and was the highest (1.81) with a CHO/LIP ratio of 0.94 and lowest (1.33) with a CHO/LIP ratio of 4.95. No significant (P > 0.05) differences were observed in the HSI values between the fish fed diets B, C and D with CHO/LIP ratios ranging from 3.33 to 1.38. The body compositions of the fish were significantly affected (P < 0.05) by different CHO/LIP ratios in the diets. Body moisture and crude protein contents decreased whereas fat and ash contents increased with decreasing CHO/LIP ratios. The CHO/LIP ratio in the diets did not, however, affect (P > 0.05) the gross energy content of the fish. The results of the present study indicate that the optimal dietary CHO/LIP ratio for a maximum growth performance of Oreochromis niloticus ranges between 2.06 and 4.95.Oreochromis niloticus / carbohydrate to lipid ratio / feeding / growth / body composition

A 12-week long feeding experiment was initiated to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation of red algae, , on the growth performance, feed utilization and body composition of Nile tilapia (Linnaeus, 1758). The fish were fed with an algae-free control diet (C) and three experimental diets which replaced conventional fish meal with varying levels of dried (20%, 40% and 60%, represented as G20, G40 and G60, respectively). The growth parameters of final weight (FW), weight gain (WG), percentage of weight gain (WG%), daily growth rate (DGR) and specific growth rate (SGR) were significantly reduced (P< 0.05) at all levels of algae incorporation compared to the control diet. Moreover, the negative impact of meal on the growth performance of Nile tilapia increased as the proportion of algae in the diet increased, with fish on diet G20 exhibiting a significantly higher growth performance than the fish on either of the G40 and G60 diets. On the other hand, the feed utilization parameters feed conversion ratio (FCR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) did not show significant differences between the fish in the control group and those on diet G20, although poorer FCR and PER outcomes were achieved in the case of fish on diet G60. The content of moisture, protein and ash in muscle and carcass increased as the proportion of meal in the diets increased, but the reverse was true for lipid level. These results indicate that incorporation of less than 20% red algae, , could be feasible in the diet of Nile tilapia and further studies are recommended to optimize the level of algae to improve growth performance.

Waterborne herbicides are stressful agents that threaten the productivity and safety of finfish species. In this study, the toxicity impacts of atrazine (ATZ) and the protective role of fucoidan were investigated on the health performance of Nile tilapia. For 40 days, the total number of 180 Nile tilapia was assigned in four groups (triplicates, 15 fish/replicate), where the first (control) and third groups were offered the control diet, while the second and fourth groups were offered a fucoidan (FCN). Further, in the third and fourth groups, the water was mixed with atrazine (ATZ) at 1.39 mg/L daily. The growth rate, FCR, and survival rate were markedly enhanced by fucoidan but severely declined by ATZ exposure (p < 0.05). The morphological structure of the intestine in the control fish revealed normal structure, while fucoidan-treated groups showed eminent enhancement and branching of the intestinal villi. The intestine of ATZ-treated fish revealed deterioration and the intestinal mucosa, inflammatory cell infiltration, and separation of lining epithelium. The highest Hb, PCV, RBCs, WBCs, total protein, and albumin were observed in Nile tilapia fed fucoidan, but the worst values were seen in ATZ-intoxicated fish (p < 0.05). The liver-related enzymes (ALT and AST) and kidney function (urea and creatinine) showed impaired values by ATZ toxicity and were regulated by dietary fucoidan. Meanwhile, fish fed fucoidan and exposed to ATZ had lower total cholesterol and triglyceride values than fish exposed to ATZ without fucoidan feeding (p < 0.05). The SOD, CAT, GPx, cortisol, and glucose levels were increased in ATZ-exposed fish and reduced by fucoidan (p < 0.05). However, the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) was reduced in fucoidan-fed fish and increased in ATZ-exposed fish (p < 0.05). Altogether, dietary fucoidan is required in fish diets to alleviate the impacts of ATZ-induced toxicity.

Growth performance and body composition of tilapiaOreochromis mloticus (L.), fed isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets containing different grain sources (maize, wheat, barley, sorghum and rice) at a level of 25% were studied for a period of 62 days. Fish fed a diet containing sorghum showed the maximum weight grain, highest specific growth rate (SGR, 2.23), the best feed conversion (FCR, 1.07) and protein efficiency ratio (PER, 2.42) in comparison with ail other diets. The diets containing maize, wheat and rice did not show any significant (P < 0.05) differences between each other. The barley diet showed the poorest values (SGR. 2.05; FCR. 1.34; PER, 1.98; and NPR, 30.65) in comparison with others. Although the diet containing sorghum showed the best net protein retention (NPR, 36.21) values, the results did not differ (P > 0.05) among maize, wheat and sorghum diets. The sorghum diet produced fish with lower moisture but higher body fat contents as compared to others. The fish fed diets containing maize, wheat, barley and rice did not show any significant difference (P > 0.05) in their body moisture and fat contents. The source of grain in the diet did not affect the crude protein and ash contents of fish (P > 0.05). It is suggested that cereal grains at the 25% level can efficiently be utilized in tilapia diets, sorghum being the best.

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