الفهرس 
IntroductionOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 137 |  |  |
| | | from | 137 | | |
Abstract
The present study evaluated the possible synergistic impacts of sodium
butyrate and Spirulina platensis as a feed additive on growth performance,
carcass composition, blood health, and intestinal histomorphology of Nile
tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). A control and three treated diets were
supplemented with sodium butyrate (SB) 350 mg, Spirulina platensis (SP)
1g and a mixture of 350 mg SB and 1g SP/kg diet (SB/SP) respectively,
were fed for monosex Nile tilapia (12.5± 0.50 g, n=120) for two months.
The results revealed higher growth performance (final weight, weight gain,
weight gain rate, SGR and PER) compared to control group (CG)
(P<0.05), with higher values being observed in fish fed SB/SP, and
significant improvement in FCR and ECR values with the lowest values
being recorded in fish fed SB/SP followed by SP, SB and CG. Biometric
indices showed no significant effect except for fish length, the longest fish
length was recorded in fish fed SB/SP followed by SP, SB and CG. There
was a significant correlation (P<0.05) between the length and the weight
among the experimental groups. Carcass composition showed highest
value of total lipid content in fish fed SB/SP.
Hematological parameters showed no significant differences except for the
WBCs which decreased significantly in fish fed SB or/ and SP in respect to CG (P
< 0.05). Biochemical parameters of Nile tilapia showed the highest values of total
protein and globulin in fish fed SB/SP and the lowest values of triglycerides, AST
and ALP in fish fed SB/SP. Intestinal histomorphology showed significant
increase in the intestinal villi length, villi surface area and goblet cells count and
decreased inter-villi space in SB or/and SP in respect to CG. Conclusively, results
revealed the importance of both SB and SP in tilapia diets to enhance the growth,
intestinal histomorphology and fish health.