The effect of dietary methionine on growth, antioxidant capacity, innate immune response and disease resistance of juvenile yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco)

Abstract

An 11-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary methionine on the growth, antioxidant status, innate immune response and disease resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila of juvenile yellow catfish. Six isonitrogenous and isolipidic practical diets were formulated to contain different graded methionine levels ranging from 6.1 to 16.4 g kg−1 of dry weight. The results indicated that growth performance and feed utilization were significantly influenced by the dietary methionine levels; fish fed the diet containing 6.1 g kg−1 methionine level had lower specific growth rate, percentage weight gain (PWG), feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio than those fed the other diets (P < 0.05). Fish fed the diet containing 16.4 g kg−1 methionine level had lowest protein contents in whole body and muscle among all treatments. Triacylglycerols, cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and haemoglobin (Hb) in plasma or whole blood were significantly affected by dietary methionine levels. Fish fed the diet containing 6.1 g kg−1 methionine level had higher superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase activities and malondialdehyde values than those fed other diets. Fish fed diets containing 9.7 and 11.8 g kg−1 methionine levels had higher lysozyme activity, total immune globulin, phagocytic activity and respiratory burst than those fed other diets. The lowest survival after A. hydrophila challenge was observed in fish fed a diet containing 6.1 g kg−1 methionine. Quadratic regression analysis of PWG against dietary methionine levels indicated that the optimal dietary methionine requirement for the maximum growth of juvenile yellow catfish was estimated to be 11.5 g kg−1 of the diet in the presence of 4.0 g kg−1 cystine (corresponding to 23.5 g kg−1 of dietary protein on a dry weight basis).