Impact of Total Ammonia on Growth, Physiological Status and Histological Examination of Red Tilapia (Oreochromis sp.)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of total ammonia (TAN) on growth, survivability, some blood biochemistry and histological evaluation of the kidney, liver, skin and muscles of red tilapia fingerlings for 56 days. A total of 180 fish were held at a rate of 10 fish fiberglass -1 tank with capacity of 100 liters welled water (salinity 27.3 ppt). Treatments of 0.1, 0.9, 1.8, 2.9 and 3.5 mgL -1 of TAN were carried out in this study. Fish fed pellets containing 34.7% crude protein. The results showed that fish exposed to 3.5 mg TAN L -1 recorded the lowest final body weight and survival rate, these results inversely related with increasing TAN levels. Fish subjected to treatment of 3.5 mg TAN L -1 achieved the highest values of serum urea, uric acid and creatinine. The histological investigation of kidney, liver and skin of fish exposed to 3.5 mg TAN L -1 showed severe damages in renal tubules, large amount of hemorrhage between renal tubules, vacuolation in hepatic cytoplasm, hepatic congestion, hepatic necrosis, laceration of skin, inflammation in muscle fibers and splitting of large muscle fibers. Based on the results of the present study, it is recommended that increased levels of ammonia should be avoided and eliminating the causes in aquaculture ponds in order to obtain the highest production performance and increase survival rates and maintain fish health and vitality.

Impact of transport conditions and underlying disease on post‐stocking survival of juvenile Lates calcarifer

“…Mean total plasma protein (TPP) levels were significantly lower in fish from Perak (62.5 ± 6.4 g/L) than in Singapore and Johor at stocking ( p < .05; Table 3). In addition to gut damage, L. calcarifer exposed to FAN during transport in this study exhibited multifocal renal tubular necrosis like that described in other studies (Abd Elnabi et al., 2018; Mangang & Pandey, 2021; Zhang et al., 2018). Protein‐losing enteropathy and renopathy due to acute damage to gut epithelia and kidney tubules may explain the lower TPP in Perak fish (Junior et al., 2018; Thrall et al., 2012).…”

Ammonia induced toxico‐physiological responses in fish and management interventions

“…109 High serum urea, uric acid and creatinine were noted in red tilapia exposed to 3.5 mg/L TAN compared with those exposed to 0.1, 0.9, 1.8 and 2.9 mg/L TAN for 56 days. 111 Tropical gar (Atractosteus tropicus) is an ancestral airbreathing fish that is highly tolerant to TAN and NH 3 . The upregulation of the genes involved in TAN excretion (genes encoding Rhesus glycoproteins (Rhag, Rhbg and Rhcg) and ion transporters (NHE, NKA, CFTR or NKCC) through gills and skin elicited physiological and metabolic responses in juveniles of A. tropicus under chronic TAN exposure for 12 days.…”

“…Increased transaminase (GOT, GPT) activity on ammonia exposure indicates tissue damage 109 . High serum urea, uric acid and creatinine were noted in red tilapia exposed to 3.5 mg/L TAN compared with those exposed to 0.1, 0.9, 1.8 and 2.9 mg/L TAN for 56 days 111 . Tropical gar ( Atractosteus tropicus ) is an ancestral air‐breathing fish that is highly tolerant to TAN and NH 3 .…”

“…Sinha et al 139 also revealed the negative effect of high environment ammonia on growth performance. According to Abd Elnabi et al, 111 the body weight and survival rate of red tilapia ( Oreochromis sp .) fingerlings were inversely related to increasing TAN levels.…”