Marine Drugs (Mar 2024)

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

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/md22040150
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 22, no. 4
p. 150

Abstract

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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.

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