Effects of dietary bovine lactoferrin on growth, haemato-biochemical parameters, immune functions and tolerance to air exposure stress in the African cichlid Sciaenochromis fryeri

Abstract

The effects of dietary bovine lactoferrin (LF) on the growth, haemato-biochemical parameters, non-specific serum immunity and stress responses were investigated in the African cichlid, Sciaenochromis fryeri. Four isocaloric diets containing 0 (control), 200, 400 and 800 mg LF kg −1 diet were formulated and fed to juvenile fish for 8 weeks. The treatments had no effects on the survival rate, growth performance or haematological parameters. Nor were the serum levels of total protein, albumin and globulin significantly influenced. Serum iron levels and total iron binding capacity (TIBC), however, changed vigorously as the result of dietary LF. Dietary LF led to significant reductions in serum levels of alanine transaminase and alkaline phosphatase. The highest lysozyme and bactericidal activities were observed in the fish fed the diets with 200 and 800 mg/ kg of LF, respectively, while no changes were observed in their ACH 50 levels. Recovery rates were measured after 10 min of air exposure stress. The rate was about twice higher (36% vs 20%) in fish fed on 400 mg LF than in those fed the control diet. Results revealed that adding 400 mg/kg LF could be beneficial as an iron discriminator, for liver function as well as an immune and stress resistance promoter. K E Y W O R D Siron metabolism, lysozyme, recovery rate, serum liver enzymes

Bovine lactoferrin in fish culture: Current research and future directions

“…This study also demonstrated that fish fed 800 and 1200 mg/kg exhibited growth enhancement, whereas Moradian et al. (2018) reported high lysozyme and bactericidal activities in African cichlid ( Sciaenochromis fryeri ) fed bLF (200 and 800 mg/kg) respectively. Nevertheless, there were no effects on growth performance or physiological parameters, such as serum total protein and serum iron levels (Table 1).…”

“…Additionally, orally administered bLF enhances tolerance to air exposure stress in the African cichlid (Moradian et al., 2018) and increases the level of HSP70 in the branchial lamellae of orange‐spotted grouper ( Epinephelus coioides ) exposed to low salinity (Yokoyama et al., 2006). Increasing dietary levels of bLF also result in an increased recovery rate from air exposure stress in spotted groupers.…”

Stress management in aquaculture: a review of dietary interventions

“…The antibacterial property of lactoferrin is attributed to its iron (an essential nutrient for bacterial growth) sequestering ability (Welker et al 2007). Moreover, administration of lactoferrin was found to improve tolerance to hypoxia stress in Cyprinus carpio (Kakuta 1998), nitrite stress in Macrobrachium rosenbergii (Chand et al 2006), air exposure stress in Sciaenochromis fryeri and Epinephelus coioides (Yokoyama et al 2006;Moradian et al 2018), low salinity stress in Epinephelus coioides and Seriola dumerili (Yokoyama et al 2006;Yokoyama et al 2019) and high-temperature stress in Paralichthys olivaceus (Yokoyama et al 2005). Hence, it could be concluded that dietary inclusion of lactoferrin is a viable nutritional strategy for aquaculture stress management.…”

“…2006; Moradian et al . 2018), low salinity stress in Epinephelus coioides and Seriola dumerili (Yokoyama et al . 2006; Yokoyama et al .…”

“…The immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory property of lactoferrin, an iron-binding glycoprotein, is well established in vertebrates, including fish and crustaceans. Lactoferrin administration improved disease resistance through an enhanced number of granulocytes and lymphocytes, increased phagocytosis, leukocytes respiratory burst, lysozyme, haemolytic and complement activity as well as mucus secretion in different aquaculture species (Kakuta et al 1996;Kakuta et al 1998;Lygren et al 1999;Kumari et al 2003;Chand et al 2006;Yokoyama et al 2006;Welker et al 2007;Rahimnejad et al 2012;Moradian et al 2018;Esmaeili et al 2019). The antibacterial property of lactoferrin is attributed to its iron (an essential nutrient for bacterial growth) sequestering ability (Welker et al 2007).…”