Assessing the Effects of <i>Guiera senegalensis</i>, <i>Pluchea odorata</i>, and <i>Piliostigma reticulatum</i> Leaf Powder Supplementation on Growth, Immune Response, Digestive Histology, and Survival of Nile Tilapia (<i>Oreochromis niloticus</i> Linnaeus, 1758) Juveniles before and after <i>Aeromonas hydrophila</i> Infection
2024
Paul M. Ndour | Jean Fall | Maria J. Darias | Domenico Caruso | Marc Canonne | Elodie Pepey | Sophie Hermet | Sokhna K. L. Fall | Malick Diouf | Samira Sarter
The effects of three medicinal plants in the feeds of juvenile Nile tilapia (<i>Oreochromis niloticus</i>) were investigated on growth, survival, immunity, and digestive histology at various inclusion levels: (A) <i>Guiera senegalensis</i> at 0, 1, 2, 4, and 8%; (B) <i>Pluchea odorata</i> at 0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4%; (C) <i>Piliostigma reticulatum</i> at 0, 1, and 2%; and (D) a mixture of the three at 0, 1, and 2%. After 28 days of feeding, fish were infected with <i>Aeromonas hydrophila</i> for 12 days. The results showed that, except for <i>G. senegalensis</i>, the inclusion of the medicinal plants, alone or combined, enhanced the immune response. The diet with 4% <i>P. odorata</i> significantly increased plasma lysozyme and bactericidal activities without affecting feed conversion efficiency or growth. Despite improved immunity, none of the treatments enhanced post-infection survival rates. However, fish fed the 1% mixture showed healthier livers and intestines, with reduced cell swelling and normal lipid deposits, followed by the 2% mixture and the control. These results highlight the potential benefits of incorporating <i>P. odorata</i> and the plant mixture into the diets of Nile tilapia juveniles for enhancing their immune response against <i>A. hydrophila</i>.
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