The effects of berberine powder supplementation on growth performance, skin mucus immune response, serum immunity, and disease resistance of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings

Abstract

© 2020 Elsevier B.V. Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) cultured commercially often suffer from several stressors that increases its susceptibility to infectious diseases. In the present study, five grades of berberine were added to the basal dietary; 0, 1, 3, 6 and 9 g kg−1, of Nile tilapia (11.61 ± 0.09 g fish−1) fingerlings in triplication. At weeks 4 and week 8, the fish were collected to evaluate the effects of berberine on growth parameters, skin mucosal, and serum immunity. Challenge test utilizing Streptococcus agalactiae infection was implemented at the close of the feeding trial. Fish fed berberine displayed statistically significant enhanced skin mucus lysozyme and peroxidase activities; as well as improved serum lysozyme, peroxidase, alternative complement (ACH50), phagocytosis, and respiratory burst activities compared with the control (P < .05). The challenge test revealed that the survival rates of the berberine-fed fish were significantly higher (P < .05) by 80% (Diet 2), 63.33% (Diet 3), 56.68% (Diet 4), and 53.33% (Diet 5). Fish that did not survive demonstrated symptoms of abnormal swimming, decreased appetite, darkness, exophthalmia, pair-fins basal haemorrhage, and pale liver. The relative percent survival (RSP) was 73.91%, 52.17%, 43.48, and 39.13% within the 1, 3, 6, and 9 g kg−1 berberine inclusions, respectively. The addition of berberine significantly (P < .05) increased final body weight, weight gain, and specific growth rate; while a reduction in the feed conversion ratio was recorded at 1 g kg−1 berberine after four and eight weeks. In conclusion, diets supplemented with berberine 1 g kg−1 boosted mucosal and serum parameters, growth rates, and disease resistance of Nile tilapia.