Probiotic effects of the fungi,Aspergillus nigeron growth, immunity, haematology, intestine fungal load and digestive enzymes of the common carp,Cyprinus carpio

Abstract

The present study was conducted to investigate the probiotic role of the unicellular fungi, Aspergillus niger on growth performance, immunity, haematology and digestive enzymes in common carp, Cyprinus carpio. One non‐supplemented group (T0) was considered as control and two groups fed the fungi including T1 (fish supplemented with diet containing 1 × 103 A. niger) and T2 (fish supplemented with diet containing 1 × 106 A. niger) considered as the experimental treatments in three replicates. Fish were fed experimental diets for 60 days. The survival rate and growth parameters (final length and weight, weight gain (%), thermal growth coefficient (TGC), protein efficiency ratio and lipid efficiency ratio) significantly increased in A. niger supplemented fish compared with control (p < 0.05). The values of FCR (feed conversion ratio) and CF (condition of factor) significantly decreased after feeding experiment in fish of T2 and T1 compared with control (p < 0.05). The plasma levels of lysozyme and total immunoglobulin significantly elevated in A. niger supplemented groups compared with control (p < 0.05). The RBC (red blood cell) counts, Hb (haemoglobin) concentrations, MCH (mean corpuscular haemoglobin) and MCV (mean corpuscular volume) values significantly increased in A. niger supplemented fish compared with control (p < 0.05). The WBC (white blood cell) and Hct (haematocrit) value were higher in fish of T2 compared with control (p < 0.05). The number of neutrophils significantly increased in the treatment, T2 compared with control (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the lymphocyte counts significantly increased in A. niger supplemented fish compared with control (p < 0.05). The body composition of fish showed increases in the fish dry matter and protein content and decreases in lipid content of T1 and T2 groups compared with control (p < 0.05). The digestive enzymes (protease, trypsin, amylase, lipase and alkaline phosphatase), apparent protein ad lipid digestibility significantly increased in response to dietary level of 1 × 106 A. niger compared with control (p < 0.05). The supplementation of fish with A. niger also prompted the load of the fungi in intestine (p < 0.05). The results of the present study confirmed the probiotic role of A. niger in common carp, since it improved growth, immunity, digestion and the fish haematology.

Aspergillus niger confers health benefits and modulates the gut microbiota of juvenile Pacific white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) under farming conditions

“…Results showed that the inclusion of A. niger can enhance the weight gain, specific growth rate, and length gain of shrimps, especially in the A1.5, indicating the growth promotion of A. niger (at 1.5 g/kg diet) shrimps under culture conditions. This similar to the previous findings in common carp fed a diet supplemented with A. niger (at 1×10 3 or 1×10 6 CFU/g diet) (Jasim et al, 2022). Jasim et al (2022) showed an improvement in the final length and weight, weight gain, thermal growth coefficient, protein efficiency ratio, lipid efficiency ratio, feed conversion ratio, immune response, and activity of digestive enzymes of fish fed with diets supplemented with A. niger.…”

“…This similar to the previous findings in common carp fed a diet supplemented with A. niger (at 1×10 3 or 1×10 6 CFU/g diet) (Jasim et al, 2022). Jasim et al (2022) showed an improvement in the final length and weight, weight gain, thermal growth coefficient, protein efficiency ratio, lipid efficiency ratio, feed conversion ratio, immune response, and activity of digestive enzymes of fish fed with diets supplemented with A. niger. Also, in another study, supplementation of Aspergillus oryzae singly or in combination with b-glucan can increase the growth, feed efficiency, antioxidant status, and immunomodulation of Nile tilapia (Dawood et al, 2020).…”

“…niger is a potential probiotic, which can increase egg production and quality, and decrease the cecal microbial load of pathogenic bacteria (such as Clostridium perfringens, Salmonella spp., and Escherichia coli) in laying hens. In aquaculture, A. niger has been demonstrated to be a potential probiotic that confers health benefits on common carp (including the enhancement of growth performance, immunity, hematology, the load of the gut fungi, and digestive enzymes) (Jasim et al, 2022). However, the probiotic potential of A. niger on shrimp has not been evaluated yet.…”

“…Also, in another study, supplementation of Aspergillus oryzae singly or in combination with b-glucan can increase the growth, feed efficiency, antioxidant status, and immunomodulation of Nile tilapia (Dawood et al, 2020). The improvement in the growth of fish by A. niger supplementation has been discussed to relate to the positive benefits on feed digestibility, activity of digestive enzymes (protease, amylase, lipase, alkaline phosphatase, and trypsin), and feed absorbance efficiency with an increase in the absorptive area, microvilli density and height (Dawood et al, 2020;Jasim et al, 2022). Our study observed that A. niger added to the diet of shrimps (at 1.5 g/kg diet, A1.5) showed the best effectiveness in the growth performance of shrimps; however, the mechanisms of action were lacking, which merits further investigations.…”

“…Previous studies have shown that A. niger used for the fermentation of groundnut oil cake, soybean meal, sunflower oil cake, and plant protein mix can enhance growth, feed efficiency, and hemolymph indices in Pacific white shrimp (Jannathulla et al, 2018a;Jannathulla et al, 2018b;Dayal et al, 2020;Jannathulla and Dayal, 2022). Recently, in common carp (Cyprinus carpio), supplementing A. niger in the diet increased survival rate, growth performance, feed utilization, immune responses, hematological indexes, digestive enzyme activity, and the load of the fungi in the intestine (Jasim et al, 2022). Therefore, results of previous studies have proven the potential use of A. niger as a probiotic organism conferring health benefits to aquatic animals.…”