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Ziziphus mauritiana supplementation of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) diet for improvement of immune response to Aeromonas hydrophila infection

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Abstract

This study evaluated the effectiveness of dietary Ziziphus mauritiana leaf powder (ZLP) to control Aeromonas hydrophila infection in Nile tilapia and reduce damage to vital immune organs. Four experimental groups were fed a diet supplemented with ZLP at concentrations of 0, 5, 10, and 20 g/kg (w/w) for 6 weeks. At the end of the feeding trial, all groups were intraperitoneally injected with pathogenic A. hydrophila. It was found that Z. mauritiana significantly (P < 0.05) upregulated (lysozyme, interleukin 1 beta) and superoxide dismutase gene expressions as well as improved the activity of serum lysozyme and liver antioxidant enzymes. The fish that were fed a ZLP-supplemented diet also exhibited significantly higher survival rates after A. hydrophila challenge than those that were fed a ZLP-free diet (P < 0.05). Supplementation of 10 g/kg ZLP most effectively reduced the histopathological alterations caused by A. hydrophila challenge in the liver, spleen, kidney, and muscle of the fish. In conclusion, ZLP can be effective in controlling A. hydrophila infection in Nile tilapia (particularly at a concentration of 10 g/kg) through enhancement of its immune and antioxidant status.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Aquatic Animals Diseases and Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Benha, 13736, Egypt

    Amel El Asely

  2. Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Benha, 13736, Egypt

    Aziza Amin

  3. Fish Nutrition Department, Central Laboratory for Aquaculture Research, Abassa, Abu Hammad, Sharkia, Tell El Kebir, Egypt

    Asmaa S. Abd El-Naby & Fatma Samir

  4. Private Consultant, Cairo, Egypt

    Ahmed El-Ashram

  5. Animal Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh, 33516, Egypt

    Mahmoud A. O. Dawood

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  1. Amel El Asely
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  2. Aziza Amin
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  3. Asmaa S. Abd El-Naby
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  4. Fatma Samir
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  5. Ahmed El-Ashram
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  6. Mahmoud A. O. Dawood
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Correspondence to Mahmoud A. O. Dawood.

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The experimental design was approved by the Central Laboratory for Aquaculture Research (CLAR), Abassa, Egypt (Approval no. 43429), and all procedures followed the guidelines for the care and use of fish.

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El Asely, A., Amin, A., Abd El-Naby, A.S. et al. Ziziphus mauritiana supplementation of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) diet for improvement of immune response to Aeromonas hydrophila infection. Fish Physiol Biochem 46, 1561–1575 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-020-00812-w

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