Abstract:

The present study investigated the effects of dietary carob (Ceratonia siliqua) syrup supplementation on growth performance, hematological, serum biochemical and immunological parameters of tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus. Five isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were formulated to contain carob syrup at levels of 0%, 5%, 2.5%, 1.25%, and 0.625%. Fish were fed experimental diets for 60 days. There were no particular differences in weight gain, feed conversion ratio, specific growth rate, red blood cell count, haematocrit ratio (%), serum total protein, albumin, and globulin levels of fish fed experimental diets. However, dietary carob syrup especially with 1.25% incorporation significantly decreased serum glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol levels. The dietary carob syrup especially at 1.25% significantly increased the phagocytic activity, phagocytic index, respiratory burst and potential killing activity. In conclusion, findings of the present study indicate that feeding tilapia with a diet containing 1.25% carob syrup over a period of 60 days might be adequate to improve immune parameters and serum biochemical variables without any adverse effect on growth performance and hematological parameters of fish.

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