Aspilia mossambicensis and azadirachta indica medicinal leaf powders modulate physiological parameters of nile tilapia (oreochromis niloticus)
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Date
2019
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Taylor & Francis Group
Abstract
Growing mixed-sex Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus in earthen ponds to table size is a major challenge due to its
early maturity and prolific breeding. This study determined the effects of two medicinal plants; Aspilia plant,
Aspilia mossambicensis and Neem tree, Azadirachta indica on hatchlings production, growth performance, feed
utilization, survival and haematology of O. niloticus. Experimental diets were prepared by adding 1.0, 2.0, 4.0
and 8.0 g of either A. mossambicensis or A. indica leaf powders into a kg of the control diet subsequently ad-
ministered daily to twenty triplicates of O. niloticus for three months. Both A. mossambicensis and A. indica leaf
powder at the used doses, reduced significantly hatchlings production of O. niloticus when compared to the
control (P < .05). The lowest value of hatchlings count was found in A. indica dose 8.0 g kg −1 (P < .05). The
use of A. mossambicensis leaf powder at a dose of 4.0 g kg −1 improved significantly growth performance and feed
utilization (P < .05). In contrast, survival rate was not affected significantly by the two plants (P > .05). Both
plants differentially increased significantly haematological parameters such as Hb concentration, packed cell
volume (PCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC),
white blood cells (WBC), monocyte and lymphocytes while reduced significantly neutrophils and eosinophils
(P < .05). In conclusion, A. mossambicensis and A. indica leaf powders control prolific breeding of O. niloticus,
modulate its growth performance and feed utilization. The two plants also modulate haematological parameters
of O. niloticus indicating immunological response towards stress or intoxication, however, the values obtained
were not beyond the recommended range for healthy fish.
Description
Journal Article
Keywords
Feed utilization, Growth performance, Haematological parameters, Neem, Nile tilapia, Wild sunflower