Cadmium Sub-Lethal Concentration Effect on Growth, Haematological and Biochemical Parameters of Mystus seenghala (Sykes, 1839).

The current study aims to assess the cadmium sub-lethal concentration influence on growth and haematological and biochemical parameters of Mystus seenghala. A total of 60 fish of three different length groups (20 each) were collected from Head Qadirabad, Pakistan. The fish were treated to the sub-lethal concentration viz. one-third of LC50, for 16 weeks except for the control groups. Water quality parameters were kept constant during the entire course of the research, and the major parameters were measured as temperature (28.03 ± 0.03 °C), DO (5.82 ± 0.14 mg L-1), pH (8.00 ± 0.01) and total hardness (249.98 ± 0.01 mg L-1). Findings revealed that the growth of three treated variant length groups was affected negatively by cadmium exposure and showed significantly (P < 0.05) lower average wet weight, body length and condition factor as compared to control groups, while the feed conversion ratio (FCR) increases by increasing the exposure duration. The haematological parameters including values of Hct, Hb and MCHC were significantly (P < 0.05) reduced in all Cd-treated groups than control groups, whereas the level of MCH and MCV were significantly higher, but no significant difference was found in the value of RBCs in all treated groups. Biochemical parameters such as ALT, AST, total lipid and glucose level in Cd exposure groups were significantly higher, while the total protein level was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced in all treated groups as compared to control groups. From the current study, it has been concluded that the growth, haematology and biochemical parameters are important indicators of ecotoxicology particularly contamination of the cadmium and health of the fish.

Effect of Fortified Feed with Phyto-Extract on the First Physical Barrier (Mucus) of Labeo rohita.

The aim of the current study was to assess the effect of two different fortified feeds with different concentrations of two important medicinal plants (Withania coagulans and Zingiber officinale) on the mucosal immunity of Labeo rohita. After a dietary intervention, mucus was tested against five pathogenic bacteria (in-vitro), while experimental fish were tested against the ectoparasite (Lernaea) (in-vivo). Our results revealed that all fish groups fed with different concentrations (1, 1.5, and 2%) of Z. officinale had low molecular weight proteins and did not develop any significant signs of parasitic infection, with low mortality rate; whereas the groups that were fed with W. coagulans (particularly with 1% and 2%), including a control group, developed rapid signs of infection with high mortality rate. The highest hemagglutination titer value was recorded for the fish fed with 1% and 1.5% of Z. officinale. The lowest value was found for the fish fed with 2% of W. coagulans. The mucus of all fish of fortified groups was active and inhibited the growth of tested bacterial pathogens as compared to the control group. Further, Z. officinale groups showed greater efficacy against bacteria as compared to the W. coagulans groups. In conclusion, Z. officinale can be considered as a potential and functional ingredient in aquaculture feed. Furthermore, future studies should be conducted to investigate more details on the subject.