Indian Journal of Animal Research

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Full Research Article

Effect of Different Levels of Spirogyra Incorporated Diet on Bio Growth Performance, Digestive Enzyme Activity and Haematology of Etroplus suratensis 

Salkapuram Sandeep Kumar1,*, S. Selvaraj1, Cheryl Antony1, S. Aruna1, P. Ruby
1Dr. M.G.R. Fisheries College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Dr. J. Jayalalithaa Fisheries University, Nagapattinam, Ponneri-601 204, Tamil Nadu, India.

ABSTRACT

Background: Etroplus suratensis is omnivorous feeder, but mainly feeds on filamentous algae especially Spirogyra. The preference of pearlspot towards Spirogyra as an important food item, made us utilize the Spirogyra as an ingredient in the feed of pearlspot at different levels to evaluate its impact on growth and other parameters.

Methods: The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of Spirogyra on bio growth performance, digestive enzyme activity and haematology of E. suratensis. The experiment was performed with different levels of Spirogyra incorporated diet - S0, 10, 12.5, 15, 17.5, 20, 22.5 and 25%. The pearlspot fingerlings of initial weight of 14.91±0.11 was stocked in the 300 litre FRP tank for 60 days.

Result: The highest growth performance of pearlspot was found in 22.5% Spirogyra incorporated diet. The average weight gain was highest in 22.5% SP (26.55±0.22 g), followed by 20% SP (26.11±0.25 g), control (25.83±0.47 g), 25% SP (24.78±0.15 g), 17.5% SP (24.46±0.16 g), 15% SP (23.03± 0.16 g), 12.5% SP (22.21±0.34 g), 10% SP (22.16±0.80 g). The digestive enzyme activity of amylase (0.026±0.001 U mg protein-1 min-1), protease (0.164±0.02 U mg protein-1 min-1) and lipase (0.486±0.01 U mg protein-1 min-1) were found to be highest in 22.5%SP treatment, followed by other treatments. The haematology parameters RBC and WBC count increased with increase in the incorporation of Spirogyra in diet. The study concluded that the incorporation of Spirogyra at 22.5% improved the growth performance and feed utilization of pearlspot.

INTRODUCTION

The global fisheries and aquaculture production has reached upto 232.2 million tons, in which aquaculture has contributed about 130.9 million tons in 2022 (FAO, 2024). Aquaculture, the fastest growing food producing sector, meets the demand for aquatic food products all over the world. It also plays role in global food security, reduction of poverty by providing employment by intensifying and expanding systems through sustainable development (Subasinghe, 2009). Aquaculture is one the ideal sources for compensating the protein requirement in less time, which provides employment and economic growth for the nation (Ruby, 2022). Brackishwater aquaculture through farming contributed 4 billion USD annually to national income (CIBA, 2022). Algae are rich source of proteins, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals which can be extensively used in aquaculture for promoting the growth and is economically viable (Sivakumar, 2018). Many brackishwater fish species are available for potential aquaculture, among them E. suratensis is one of the species that adapts to both freshwater as well as brackish water and suitable for the traditional and advanced aquaculture practices (Lakra, 2011). E. suratensis is well known as pearlspot or green chromide, also locally called as Karimeen in Kerala, belonging to family Cichlidae, endemic to peninsular India and Sri Lanka (Padmakumar, 2012). The relationship between the fish and its feeding majorly depends on abundance and availability of food items (Jhingran, 1969). Pearlspot is an omnivorous fish, majorly feeds on filamentous algae, aquatic plants, copepods and detritus. Among all the food items, pearlspot majorly feeds on the filamentous algae Spirogyra (Joseph, 1988). Keeping this point in view and very few studies were studied by Spirogyra incorporation in feed, the present study is carried out using Spirogyra at different levels in feed to find the impact on growth performance, digestive enzymes and haematology of E. suratensis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Experimental design
 
The experiment was conducted in PRFF centre, Pazhaverkadu under Tamil Nadu Dr. J. Jayalalithaa Fisheries University in triplicate manner utilizing 24 tanks, capacity of 300 litres with completely randomized design (CRD). The pearlspot fishes collected from Pulicat lake, Pazhaverkadu are disinfected with KMnO4, stocked in FRP tank and fed with commercial feed for about 2 weeks for acclimatizing. Prior to collection of fish, tanks were cleaned thoroughly and disinfected and filled with 70% water and adequate aeration was provided. The pearlspot fish of initial body weight of 14.91±0.11 g at the rate of 25 fish per each tank were stocked and fed with 2% body weight, fed twice a day. Daily 10% water is exchanged by removing the uneaten feed particles and faecal matter present at the bottom of the tank to maintain good water quality. The sampling was performed fortnightly by taking the weights of fish individually to observe the increase in growth and also to adjust the feeding.
 
Experimental diets
 
Spirogyra collected was shade dried and prepared into powder and incorporated in different levels in feed. The proximate composition of the Spirogyra consists of 16.10% of crude protein, 2.50% of fat, 3.40% of ash and 12.30% fibre. The eight feeding trial diets with various levels of Spirogyra were prepared including control diet. The feed formulation and proximate composition of Spirogyra incorporated diets are presented in the Table 1.

Table 1: Feed formulation and proximate composition of experimental diets (g/kg of diet).


 
Water quality parameters
 
Water quality parameters were maintained within optimum range. pH, Dissolved oxygen (DO), Temperature and Salinity were measured on daily basis with the help of pH meter, DO meter, digital thermometer and refractometer. Alkalinity, total hardness, calcium hardness, magnesium hardness, ammonium and nitrite were analysed weekly once using standard procedure and presented in the Table 2 (APHA, 2005).

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Table 1: Feed formulation and proximate composition of experimental diets (g/kg of diet).


 
Growth parameters
 
The bio-growth parameters in terms of average weight gain (AWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), feed efficiency ratio (FER), protein efficiency ratio (PER), specific growth rate (SGR), average daily gain (ADG) and survival rate were calculated every two weeks during sampling using formulae.
 
Digestive enzyme activity
 
Digestive enzyme analysis was performed at the end of the feeding trial. Initially sample homogenate (5%) was prepared by homogenizing the tissue in 0.25M sucrose solution using pestle and mortar, the centrifuged at 4°C for 20 minutes to obtain a supernatant and is stored at -20°C in a deep freezer, till the enzyme analysis is done. The protease, amylase and lipase activity were performed using Casein digestion method (Drapeau, 1976 and Sarath, 1989); Dinitro salicylic acid (Rick and Stagbauer, 1974) and Titrimetric method (Cherry and Crandall, 1932).
 
Haematological analysis
 
The blood samples from each treatment were collected at the end of the feeding trial. Using 1 mL sterile syringe the blood samples are collected from the caudal vein of fishes. Prior to the collection of blood, the syringes were coated with EDTA (2.7%) which acts as an anticoagulant. The fishes were anesthetized using clove oil and blood samples are collected and stored in EDTA coated vials (1 mL). The Haemoglobin level in blood was determined by Cyanmethaemoglobin method (Drabkin, 1946). The haematocrit level in blood was determined by Microhematocrit method (Nelson and Morris, 1989). The white blood cells (WBC) and red blood cells (RBC) counts were determined by Haemocytometer. The MCV, MCH and MCHC values were calculated using Wintrobe (1934).
 
        MCH (fL) = (haemoglobin x10) / Erythrocytes
        MCV (per µl) = (haematocrit x 10) / Erythrocytes
        MCHC (g dl-1) = (haemoglobin x 100) / Haematocrit
 
Data analysis
 
The statistical analysis of the data was analysed using SPSS, 20.0 by ONE WAY ANOVA along with Duncan’s multiple range test followed by Tukey’s test for post hoc comparison of means with significance level P< 0.05 among the treatment groups. 

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Effect of Spirogyra on growth performance of E. suratensis
 
The results calculated for growth parameters and feed utilization at the end of the feeding trial of 60 days are presented in the Table 3. The final body weight among the treatments showed significant difference with highest body weight in 22.5% SP treatment (26.55±0.63 g), followed by 20%SP treatment (25.98±0.25 g), control (25.82±0.24 g) and least weight gain in 10%SP (22.16±0.34 g). The better FCR (1.87±0.05), FER (0.54±0.02) and PER (1.21±0.03) and ADG (0.19±0.005) were recorded in 22.5% SP treatment. Previous study on Spirogyra incorporated diet in Catla fingerlings concluded average weight gain was lower in experimental diet treatments than control, but observed increase in weight of fish with increase in incorporation level of Spirogyra, FCR values also followed the same and best weight gain and FCR among the Spirogyra treatment was observed at 37% and 40% incorporation level (Kumar et al., 2004). The similar results were observed with the striped mullet fed with Ulva meal and reported incorporation of 20% meal in diet enhanced the growth performance of the fish (Wassef, 2001). Several early studies reported that algal diets improved the growth performance of fish (Olvera- Novoa, 1998; Khanzadeh, 2016; Younis, 2018; Priyatharshni, 2024).

Table 3: Bio-growth parameters of pearlspot fed with different levels of Spirogyra incorporated diet.


 
Digestive enzyme activity
 
The digestive enzyme activity of protease, amylase, lipase exhibited the significant difference among the treatments (p<0.05). The results of the digestive enzyme activity were presented in the Table 4. The highest enzyme activity of amylase (0.026±0.001), protease (0.164±0.02) and lipase (0.486±0.01) were recorded in 22.5% SP treatment. The activity of digestive enzymes significantly increased with increase in the level of Spirogyra incorporation in diet may be due to the dietary fibre digestion by the fish. Similarly, results were observed in increased digestive enzyme activity of Nile tilapia in amylase and lipase activity in 7.5 and 10 g kg-1 dried periphyton incorporated diets (Saleh, 2022). The similar results for the increase in the digestive enzyme activity of the amylase, lipase and protease was observed (Akbary, 2018; Anle, 2018).

​

Table 4: Digestive enzyme activity of pearlspot fed with different levels of Spirogyra.


 
Haematological analysis
 
The haematological analysis was performed at the end of the trial, values are presented in Table 5. The significant increase in the levels of RBC and WBC count was observed, with increase in the Spirogyra incorporation level. The highest RBC (1.92±0.04), WBC (11.76±0.13) count and Haemoglobin value (7.84±0.05) was found in 22.5% SP treatment. The haematology is one of the indicators of the fish health in relation to the supplementary feed and good efficiency of transport of oxygen from gills to tissues indicate the Hb, RBC and Ht levels in blood (Adhikari, 2004; Cook, 2013). Previous studies have also concluded that incorporation of algae in feed helped in the improvement of the haematological parameters (Nur, 2020; Rahman, 2023).   

Table 5: Haematological parameters of pearlspot fed with different levels of Spirogyra incorporated diet.

CONCLUSION

From the above study, it is concluded, the Spirogyra has effect on the growth performance, digestive enzyme activity and haematological parameters of Etroplus suratensis. Spirogyra can also be utilized as alternative source for few ingredients such as corn flour, wheat bran, rice flour.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The authors are thankful to the Dean, Dr. M.G.R. Fisheries College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Dr.J. Jayalalithaa Fisheries University, Ponneri 601 204, Tamil Nadu, India for rendering the facilities to conduct the present study.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

Every step taken was compliant with the responsible parties’ ethical standards, the authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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