ABSTRACT
Globally, the disposal of shellfishery waste is a major challenge and causes a risk to the coastal region. For potential development in aquaculture, the use of safe supplements to improve fish production and health is important. Chitosan (CS) used as feed additives for several fish species that enhanced production and immunity. The present study was intended to assess the effect of feed additives N-acetyl-d-glucosamine (NAG) loaded chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) on productivity, survival rate, and protein conversion efficiency of Oreochromis niloticus (L.). This is the first report on the effect of CSNPs and NAG loaded CSNPs as feed additives enhanced growth performance and non-specific immunity of O. niloticus. CSNPs and NAG loaded CSNPs were synthesized and characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscope, FT-IR, X-ray diffraction, particle size distribution, and zeta sizer. Fish (15.30 ± 0.23 g) administered diets fortified with 0.0, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 g CSNPs/kg feed loaded with NAG for 45 d. The diets containing 1.0 g/kg NAG loaded CSNPs enhanced specific growth rate, weight gain, survival rate, respiratory burst, and lysozyme activities of tilapia compared control group. The data shows biologically active CSNPs and NAG loaded CSNPs are potent antimicrobial agents against selected bacterial pathogens. In conclusion, the findings suggested that the dietary supplement containing NAG loaded CSNPs significantly increased immune-modulatory properties, growth performance, and enhanced their disease resistance of Nile tilapia.
