Effect of Chitosan Supplemented Diet on Survival, Growth, Feed Utilization, Body Composition & Histology of Sea Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

Abstract

The effect of chitosan incorporated into feed formulation on the growth, feed utilization, body composition and histological response of sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) was investigated. Final fish weight, feed conversion ratio (FCR), specific growth rate (SGR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), protein productive value (PPV), and energy utilization (EU) of sea bass feed chitosan supplemented diet and the control diet were determined at the end of experiment. Data presents mean ± SD from triplicate determination (n = 3) for 75 days feeding trial. Different concentrations (0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 & 4.0) and control without chitosan incorporated with total fish feed in the form of dry diets were fed for 75 days. Average final weight (FW) was significantly higher at diet 3 (1 g?kg?1 chitosan) and the lowest in control fish group, specific growth rate (SGR) was significant at diet 3. Also, protein efficiency ratio (PER), protein productive value (PPV), and energy utilization (EU) showed the same trend. The chemical body composition, crude protein, dry matter, crude fat and ash were significant (P ≤ 0.01) different compared to control groups. The present investigation suggested that the chitosan incorporated into diets of sea bass fish certainly enhanced the non specific responses and reduced mortality and also improved the growth performance of fish.