The Growth, Innate Immunity and Protection against H2O2-Induced Oxidative Damage of a Chitosan-Coated Diet in the Olive Flounder Paralichthys olivaceus

Abstract

We demonstrate enhanced growth, innate immunity and protection against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced protein oxidation and cellular DNA damage in olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus fed a chitosan-coated moist pallet (MP) diet. A chitosanbased biopolymer coated MP as the experimental diet and a non-coated MP (control) was fed to olive flounder fish. Growth, including the average weight gain (g/fish), weight gain (%) and feed intake (g) of the fish group fed a chitosan-coated MP diet increased significantly. The survival rate was reported as 100% throughout the experimental period. Immunological parameters indicated higher mucus lysozyme activity and significantly higher fish skin mucus total protein content was observed in fish fed the chitosan-coated MP diet compared to the control. A blood plasma analysis revealed attenuation of cellular DNA and protein oxidative damage caused by H2O2-induced oxidative stress in the fish fed the chitosan-coated MP diet compared to the control group. Moreover, blood serum biochemical analysis revealed health-promoting effects, including significantly higher hemoglobin and total cholesterol levels in the fish fed the chitosan-coated MP diet compared to the control group. In conclusion, growth, in nate immunity and protection against oxidative stresses were improved by feeding of the chitosan-coated MP diet to olive flounder reared in aquaculture.