RESUMO
The objective of the present study was to evaluate growth, biochemical, hematological and intestinal enzymes responses and survival of Nile tilapia juveniles fed a diet containing the essential oil of lemongrass Cymbopogum flexuosus (EOCF) and infected by Aeromonas hydrophila. Five diets were evaluated (in quadruplicate) with increasing levels of EOCF (0.0 - control; 0.25; 0.50; 1.0 and 2.0 mL kg diet-1). On day 45, eight fish per treatment were sampled and blood, liver and intestine samples were taken. Others eight fish per treatment were infected with A. hydrophila followed by a 15-day period of observation. Citral is the main constituent of EOCF. The inclusion of 2.0 mL EOCF kg diet-1 increased specific growth rate and survival after A. hydrophila infection and decreased feed conversion ratio of Nile tilapia. In general, higher concentrations of EOCF in the diet reduced plasma glucose and triglycerides levels, and increased plasma amino acids, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and hepatic ALT levels, hematological parameters, and the activity of intestinal enzymes. It was concluded that the inclusion of 2.0 mL EOCF kg diet-1 improved growth performance, biochemical and physiological responses and decreased mortality of Nile tilapia after A. hydrophila infection.
