Fluctuation of biochemical, immunological, and antioxidant biomarkers in the blood of beluga (Huso huso) under effect of dietary ZnO and chitosan–ZnO NPs

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with zinc oxide (ZnO) and chitosan-zinc nanoparticles (chitosan-ZnO NPs) on biochemical, immunological, and antioxidant biomarkers in blood of juvenile belugas (Huso huso). The beluga juveniles with initial weight of 287 ± 46 g were fed with eight experimental diets containing 0 g kg-1 ZnO (the control diet); 10, 20, and 40 mg kg-1 ZnO; and 10, 20, and 40 mg kg-1 chitosan-ZnO NPs and 36 mg kg-1 chitosan. After 28 days of culture, the fish were fed with ZnO and chitosan-ZnO NP-supplemented diets showed a more significant increase in total antioxidant capacity (TAC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity (p < 0.05) compared to the control group. There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in malondialdehyde (MDA) and glucose level in all treatment groups. The results showed that with increasing levels of ZnO and chitosan-ZnO NPs, alternative complement activity (ACH50), and total immunoglobulin, total protein, albumin, and lysozyme had a significant increase in fish fed with ZnO and chitosan-ZnO NP-supplemented diets compared to the control group (p < 0.05). ALP, ALT, and AST enzyme activities showed significant difference between control and treatment groups (p > 0.05), while the levels of LDH enzyme activity, urea, and creatinine decreased by increasing both ZnO and chitosan-ZnO NP levels. These results demonstrated that dietary chitosan-ZnO NPs could improve the health status, immune function, and antioxidant capacity of the cultured beluga juvenile.