Effects of Shrimp Shell-Derived Chitosan on Growth, Immunity, Intestinal Morphology, and Gene Expression of Nile Tilapia (<i>Oreochromis niloticus</i>) Reared in a Biofloc System
Nguyen Vu Linh,
Anisa Rilla Lubis,
Nguyen Dinh-Hung,
Supreya Wannavijit,
Napatsorn Montha,
Camilla Maria Fontana,
Phattawin Lengkidworraphiphat,
Orranee Srinual,
Won-Kyo Jung,
Marina Paolucci,
Hien Van Doan
Affiliations
Nguyen Vu Linh
Department of Animal and Aquatic Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Anisa Rilla Lubis
Department of Animal and Aquatic Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Nguyen Dinh-Hung
Aquaculture Pathology Laboratory, School of Animal & Comparative Biochemical Sciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
Supreya Wannavijit
Department of Animal and Aquatic Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Napatsorn Montha
Department of Animal and Aquatic Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Camilla Maria Fontana
Department of Animal and Aquatic Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Phattawin Lengkidworraphiphat
Multidisciplinary Research Institute, Chiang Mai University, 239 Huay Keaw Rd., Suthep, Muang, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Orranee Srinual
Department of Animal and Aquatic Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Won-Kyo Jung
Marine Integrated Biomedical Technology Center, The National Key Research Institutes in Universities, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Republic of Korea
Marina Paolucci
Department of Science and Technologies, University of Sannio, 82100 Benevento, Italy
Hien Van Doan
Department of Animal and Aquatic Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Chitosan (CH) shows great potential as an immunostimulatory feed additive in aquaculture. This study evaluates the effects of varying dietary CH levels on the growth, immunity, intestinal morphology, and antioxidant status of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) reared in a biofloc system. Tilapia fingerlings (mean weight 13.54 ± 0.05 g) were fed diets supplemented with 0 (CH0), 5 (CH5), 10 (CH10), 20 (CH20), and 40 (CH40) mL·kg−1 of CH for 8 weeks. Parameters were assessed after 4 and 8 weeks. Their final weight was not affected by CH supplementation, but CH at 10 mL·kg−1 significantly improved weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate (SGR) compared to the control (p −1 CH compared to the control. However, 40 mL·kg−1 CH caused detrimental impacts on the villi and muscular layer. CH supplementation, especially 5–10 mL·kg−1, increased liver and intestinal expressions of interleukin 1 (IL-1), interleukin 8 (IL-8), LPS-binding protein (LBP), glutathione reductase (GSR), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and glutathione S-transferase (GST-α) compared to the control group. Overall, dietary CH at 10 mL·kg−1 can effectively promote growth, intestinal morphology, innate immunity, and antioxidant capacity in Nile tilapia fingerlings reared in biofloc systems.
