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Responses of dietary supplementation of probiotic effective microorganisms (EMs) in Oreochromis niloticus on growth, hematological, intestinal histopathological, and antiparasitic activities

Aquaculture International volume 28, pages 947–963 (2020)Cite this article

Abstract

Effective microorganisms (EMs) were commonly used to improve water quality in aquaculture, but its use as a fish nutritional supplement has not been investigated. Thus, two experiments were conducted. The first experiment aimed to evaluate the effects of 0%, 2%, and 4% EM-supplemented diets on the growth, hematological, and histopathological parameters on Oreochromis niloticus under two feeding regimens A and B with either 2:1 meal ratio (morning-concentrated diet) or 1:2 (evening-concentrated diet), respectively. EM-fed fish exhibited significantly higher rates of weight gain, specific growth, survival, and feed conversion efficiency mainly in the morning-concentrated diet. WBC count, HGB, and HCT showed significant differential values at different feeding regimens, with the highest recorded with 2% EM diets. Histopathological parameters such as the intestinal perimeter ratio, mucosal fold length, intraepithelial lymphocyte, and goblet cells were elevated exponentially with increased EMs dose. In the second experiment, EM-supplemented diets were assessed for the antiparasitic activity in fish that was experimentally challenged with Trichodina species. Lower infection rates of 28% and 35% were recorded in EM-treated groups at 2% and 4% EM groups, respectively. We concluded that 2% was more efficient than 4% EMs, both for its beneficial health effects and in avoiding the overdosage-associated toxicity risk.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Prof. Attalla Metwally, the Head of Shakshouk Fish Research Station, inland Branch, National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF), Fayoum Governorate, Egypt, for his efforts and excellent support for conducting the experimental work.

Funding

This work was funded by the Aquaculture Division, National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Fish Rearing, Aquaculture Division, National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Inland Water Branch, NIOF, Cairo, Egypt

    Mohamed Abdel-Aziz

  2. Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

    Mohamed Bessat

  3. Laboratory of Fish Diseases, Aquaculture Division, NIOF, Alexandria Branch, Alexandria, Egypt

    Amr Fadel

  4. Laboratory of Fish Diseases, National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, El-Anfoshy, Qyiet Bay Castle, NIOF, Zipcode: 21556 El-Anfoshy, Alexandria, Egypt

    Amr Fadel

  5. Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

    Samar Elblehi

Authors
  1. Mohamed Abdel-Aziz
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  2. Mohamed Bessat
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  3. Amr Fadel
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  4. Samar Elblehi
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All authors contributed equally to designing and conducting experiments. MB and AF contributed equally through all stages of the manuscript draft editing and revision.

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Correspondence to Amr Fadel.

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Abdel-Aziz, M., Bessat, M., Fadel, A. et al. Responses of dietary supplementation of probiotic effective microorganisms (EMs) in Oreochromis niloticus on growth, hematological, intestinal histopathological, and antiparasitic activities. Aquacult Int 28, 947–963 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-019-00505-z

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Keywords

  • Effective microorganisms
  • Growth performance
  • Hematology
  • Histopathology
  • Challenge
  • Trichodina