The Enhancing Effect of Bacterial Zinc Nanoparticles on Performance,
Immune Response, Microbial Load of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis
niloticus) by Reducing the Infection by Trichodina
heterodentata
Muslimah N. Alsulami*1, and Mohamed T. El-Saadony2
1Department
of Biology, College of Science, University of Jeddah, Jeddah 21589,
Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Agricultural Microbiology,
Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44511, Egypt
*Corresponding author:mnal-sulami@uj.edu.sa
Abstract
Trichodina species can
cause extensive fish mortality in an aquaculture system, and extensive use of
commercial drugs affects the environment and health. The bacterial zinc
nanoparticles (BZN)
synthesized using Bacillus subtilis MS20could be a suitable alternative to antiparasitic drugs.
This work evaluates the antiparasitic properties of BZN against Trichodina
heterodentata in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Furthermore,
it explores BZN's effects on fish health, including growth performance,
immunity, and microbial load. The
BZN were 45nm in size and negatively charged at -23.6 meV. A total of 180 fish were divided into six
groups. G1-G4 were non-trichodina-infected groups fed a diet supplemented
with 0, 100, 200, and 500 mg/kg of BZN, the G5 was Trichodina-infected fish, and G6 was Trichodina-infected fish and treated with BZN (500 mg/kg). Fish
were carefully observed for clinical alterations and mortalities. Blood and
tissue samples were collected from different groups. Survival rates were 100% in
the groups (G1-G4), 56.67% (G5), and 88 % (G6). The Trichodina-challenged
group showed bad performance, especially in the survival rate (56 %) and body
weight gain, lower erythrogram (Hb, RBCs, however, higher PCV%, which may
indicate the inflammation in fish tissue), significant hypoglycemia, higher ALP
activity and ammonia but lower protein content and significant increases were
observed in serum amyloid A (SAA) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) values. Applying BZN
500 mg/kg to the challenged group maintains the parameters to control levels and
alleviates the effect of Trichodina speciesinfection. The histopathology of liver tissues supported the blood
biochemistry results. The Trichodina-challenged
fish showed extensive vacuolar degeneration of hepatocytes and massive necrosis
of the pancreas hyperplastic proliferation of the epithelial lining of
the secondary lamellae; meanwhile, BZN-treated groups showed normal liver and
gill tissue structure. The BZN treatment significantly reduced the total
bacterial count by 31-45% and Aeromonas count by 30-44%. Finally, it is
concluded that using BZN 500 mg/kg significantly mitigates the
Trichodinaheterodentata infection in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)
and enhances fish health.
To Cite This Article:
Alsulami MN, El-Saadony MT, 2024. The Enhancing Effect of Bacterial Zinc
Nanoparticles on Performance, Immune Response, and Microbial Load of Nile
Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) by Reducing the Infection by
Trichodina heterodentata. Pak Vet J, 44(3):
599-610.
http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2024.243