Effects of Dietary Phaffia rhodozyma Astaxanthin on Growth Performance, Carotenoid Analysis, Biochemical and Immune-Physiological Parameters, Intestinal Microbiota, and Disease Resistance in Penaeus monodon

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of dietary astaxanthin (Ast) from Phaffia rhodozyma on growth performance, survival, carotenoid content, the activity of antioxidant and immune-related enzymes, intestinal microbiota comparison, and disease resistance against Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Penaeus monodon. Juveniles (average weight 3.15 ± 0.12 g) were fed with six experimental diets supplemented with 0 (Control), 20.5, 41, 61.5, 82, and 102.5 mg/kg of Ast (defined as diet A–D) in triplicate for 56 days. The results indicated that shrimp fed with Ast supplementation significantly (p < 0.05) improved growth performance compared with the control. Furthermore, significantly (p < 0.05) increased survival and decreased feed conversion ratio (FCR) demonstrated the beneficial effects of dietary Ast on enhancing nutrient utilization and ultimately improving the growth and survival of shrimp. Furthermore, shrimp fed with Ast including diet developed a deeper red color than the control, consistent with the significantly (p < 0.05) increased Ast deposition in the shrimp shell. Hemolymph-immunological parameters [aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (AKP)] and hepatopancreatic antioxidant status [total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD)] were significantly (p < 0.05) affected by dietary Ast supplementation. Dietary increasing Ast levels significantly (p < 0.05) increased shrimp resistance performance to V. parahaemolyticus according to the LT50 results in the current study, which may be caused by increased total carotenoid contents in shrimp tissues from all the Ast-supplemented treatments. Conversely, intestinal microbiota biodiversity and richness were not affected by dietary Ast. The best performances of growth, antioxidant status, immunological response, and carotenoid deposition were observed in diets E and F among all the Ast-supplemented treatments. Overall, all the data suggested that dietary P. rhodozyma Ast played a critical role in improving growth performance, achieving the desired coloration, increasing carotenoid content, and keeping better health status of shrimp. Based on these positive performances, P. rhodozyma Ast could gain the trust of the consumers as a natural source and provide a potential alternative for synthetic Ast using in the Penaeus monodon culture industry.

Dietary protein and astaxanthin levels on growth performance, hepatopancreas antioxidant capacity and immunity of giant freshwater prawn ( Macrobrachium rosenbergii )

“…This phenomenon was supported by our study whereby higher dietary protein dramatically improved growth performance compared with the lower protein level in the diet; however, optimum PER was observed at a middle protein level. At present, many studies have provided evidence whereby appropriate supplementation of astaxanthin in diet could improve growth performance in Litopenaeus vannamei and Penaeus monodon (Liu et al, 2022; Wang et al, 2021; Zhao et al, 2022). However, this does not correspond with other studies whereby growth performance was not affected by astaxanthin in crustaceans (Han et al, 2018; Jiang et al, 2020; Zhang et al, 2021).…”

Utilization of functional feed additives to produce cost‐effective, ecofriendly aquafeeds high in plant‐based ingredients

“…Sanderson and Jolly 111 claimed P. rhodozyma to affect the characteristics of salmonids products by colouring them. In a recent study, Wang et al 112 reported dietary P. rhodozyma played a major role in improving growth, health performance, and achieving desired coloration as an alternative to synthetic astaxanthin in HAPP‐based diet of Penaeus monodon . Consequently, developing novel natural sources of carotenoids and improving processing technologies to produce them from natural sources must be prioritized in research for future uses of carotenoids in aquafeeds in order to meet customer demand for natural colouring pigments.…”

Sources, dynamics in vivo, and application of astaxanthin and lutein in laying hens: A review

“…Information about the effect of Ax on gut microbiota in food animals is scarce. Only Wang et al. (2021b) argued that intestinal microbiota biodiversity and richness were unaffected by dietary Ax from P. rhodozyma in shrimp.…”