Abstract
Copper and vitamin C are micronutrients needed for the living organism's functions. Vitamin C has a great effect on the immune system of fish. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary copper nanoparticles (Cu-NPs) and vitamin C (VC) supplementations on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) juveniles. So, 216 rainbow trout juveniles were randomly assigned to six groups with trial diets supplemented with Cu-NPs and VC including 0/0 (T1, control diet), 0/250 (T2), 0/500 (T3), 2/250 (T4), 2/500 (T5), and 2/0 (T6) mg Cu-NPs/VC per kg diet. After the feeding trial for 60days, the fish were challenged with Yersinia ruckeri, and the survival rate was calculated for 15days. Based on the data analysis, weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), lysozyme, alternative complement activity (ACH50), hematocrit (Hct), hemoglobin (Hb), and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) were significantly (p < 0.05) increased in the fish fed on T4 and T5 diets compared with the control group. Catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in the fish fed with diets contain Cu-NPs and VC (T4 and T5). The expressions of TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-10, SOD, CAT, and GPX genes were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in the fish fed on T3, T4, and T5 diets versus the control. In addition, the dietary Cu-NPs and VC supplementations significantly enhanced resistance against pathogens and led to the control of infection in rainbow trout. In conclusion, Cu-NPs and VC administered as feed additives at 2/250-500mg/kg elevated the growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and health of rainbow trout.
Highlights
A key factor of aquaculture viability in all rearing systems is optimal nutrition
The present study showed that growth indices including weight gain (WG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), specific growth rate (SGR), and protein efficiency ratio (PER) were significantly affected by Cu-NPs and vitamin C (VC) supplementations, which is in parallel with previous studies according to which dietary Cu and CV supplementations improved growth indices, immune response, and antioxidant status in several species of fish (El Basuini et al 2016, Mohseni et al 2014; Tang et al 2013; Faramarzi 2012; Sabatini et al 2009; Wang et al 2009)
It has been demonstrated that growth performance is significantly increased in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), beluga (Huso huso), red sea bream (Pagrus major), and freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) under the effect of dietary Cu supplementation (Tang et al 2013; Mohseni et al 2014; El Basuini et al 2016; Muralisankar et al 2015)
Summary
A key factor of aquaculture viability in all rearing systems is optimal nutrition. Mineral supplements, such as copper, are used to improve growth and food metabolism, strengthen the immune system and antioxidant capacity, and regulate ion exchange and osmotic balance (El Basuini et al 2016; Mohseni et al 2014; Lin et al 2008).Copper is an essential trace element that is involved in various physiological and biological processes in fish. A key factor of aquaculture viability in all rearing systems is optimal nutrition. Mineral supplements, such as copper, are used to improve growth and food metabolism, strengthen the immune system and antioxidant capacity, and regulate ion exchange and osmotic balance (El Basuini et al 2016; Mohseni et al 2014; Lin et al 2008). Copper is an essential trace element that is involved in various physiological and biological processes in fish. It plays an essential role in the structure of liver enzymes, melanin and skin pigments, bone and connective tissue formation, myelin maintenance in the nervous system, and hemoglobin synthesis (Havar and Hardy 2002; El Basuini et al 2016). Copper nanoparticles (Cu-NPs) are a new form of the copper source that has widely been used in dietary supplementation in aquatic nutrition (El Basuini et al 2016; Wang et al 2015)
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