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Research Journal of Biological Sciences

The Effect of Source and Level of Dietary Chromium Supplementation on Humoral Antibody Response and Blood Chemical Parameters in Hybrid Tilapia Fish (Oreochromis niloticus x O. aureus)
M.B. Magzoub, H.A. Al-Batshan, M.F. Hussein, S.I. Al-Mufarrej and M.Y. Al-Saiady

Abstract: This study was undertaken to determine the effect of dietary chromium supplementation on humoral antibody response and some blood constituents in hybrid tilapia fish (Oreohromis niloticus x O. aureus). Cr-yeast or Chromic Oxide (Cr2O3) were added to fish feed at the rates of 1 or 2 mg kg-1, while control fish received unsupplemented diet. Three hundred and forty fish (Avg. weight 37.8 g) were randomly assigned to 5 feeding regimens with two replicates each. Each replicate was reared separately. The fish were immunized with Sheep Red Blood Cells (SRBCs) at 0 day and re-immunized at 30 days of the experiment to determine primary and secondary humoral antibody responses, respectively. Blood samples were collected from 15 fish/replicate at 0 and 25 days to determine blood plasma constituents and at 5 days intervals during primary and secondary immunization up to 50 days to determine anti-SRBC antibody titers. The results shown decreased plasma glucose and increased plasma cholesterol concentrations at 25 days compared to 0 days in all groups. Increased triglyceride levels was noted in fish receiving Cr2O3 (1 mg kg-1) and decreased albumin: globulin ratio in those receiving Cr yeast (2 mg kg-1) at 25 days (p<0.05). No significant changes were observed in total protein, albumin and total globulin concentrations due to either Cr treatment or feeding duration. Anti-SRBC antibody titers were significantly higher in Cr-supplemented groups versus control, with highest titers in fish receiving 2 mg kg-1 Cr-yeast supplement during secondary immunization. These findings indicate that the inclusion of Cr in the feed significantly augments humoral antibody response of tilapia.

How to cite this article
M.B. Magzoub, H.A. Al-Batshan, M.F. Hussein, S.I. Al-Mufarrej and M.Y. Al-Saiady, 2009. The Effect of Source and Level of Dietary Chromium Supplementation on Humoral Antibody Response and Blood Chemical Parameters in Hybrid Tilapia Fish (Oreochromis niloticus x O. aureus). Research Journal of Biological Sciences, 4: 821-827.

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