Title Page
Abstract
Contents
1. Introduction 13
2. Materials and Methods 16
2.1. Experimental diets 16
2.2. Experimental fish and feeding trial 19
2.3. Sample collection and analysis 20
2.3.1. Growth performance 20
2.3.2. Hematological parameters 21
2.3.3. Non-specific immune responses 22
2.3.4. Proximate analysis 23
2.4. Challenge test 23
2.5. Statistical analysis 24
3. Results 25
3.1. Growth performance 25
3.2. Proximate body composition 34
3.3. Hematological parameters 39
3.4. Non-specific immunity 47
3.5. Bacterial challenge test 50
4. Discussion 52
5. References 55
Appendix 61
Table 1. GABA premix composition 17
Table 2. Ingredient composition and proximate analysis of the basal diets of Juvenile Nile... 18
Table 3. Growth performance of juvenile Nile tilapia fed on the experimental diets for 8... 26
Table 4. The whole-body proximate composition of juvenile Nile tilapia fed on the... 34
Table 5. Biochemical parameters of juvenile Nile tilapia fed on the experimental diets for 8 weeks 41
Table 6. Non-specific immune responses of juvenile Nile tilapia fed on the experimental... 47
Fig. 1. Weight gained by the juvenile Nile tilapia fed on experimental diets for 8 weeks. 28
Fig. 2. Broken line analysis of weight gain in juvenile rock bream fed the different dietary... 29
Fig. 3. The specific growth rate of the juvenile Nile tilapia fed on the experimental diets... 30
Fig. 4. Feed efficiency of the juvenile Nile tilapia fed on the experimental diets for 8 weeks. 31
Fig. 5. Protein efficiency ratio of the juvenile Nile tilapia fed on the experimental diets for... 32
Fig. 6. The survival rate of the juvenile Nile tilapia fed on the experimental diets for... 33
Fig. 7. Whole-body protein content (% of wet matter basis) of juvenile Nile tilapia fed on... 35
Fig. 8. Whole-body lipids content (% of wet matter basis) of juvenile Nile tilapia fed on... 36
Fig. 9. Whole-body moisture content (% of wet matter basis) of juvenile Nile tilapia fed... 37
Fig. 10. Whole-body ash content (% of wet matter basis) of juvenile Nile tilapia fed on... 38
Fig. 11. Glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) activity (% dry matter basis) of... 42
Fig. 12. The total Protein level (% dry matter basis) of juvenile Nile tilapia fed on the... 43
Fig. 13. Total glycerol level (% dry matter basis) of juvenile Nile tilapia fed on the... 44
Fig. 14. The total plasma glucose level (% dry matter basis) of juvenile Nile tilapia fed on... 45
Fig. 15. A total cholesterol level (% dry matter basis) of juvenile Nile tilapia fed on the... 46
Fig. 16. Superoxide dismutase (SOD)% superoxide inhibition of juvenile Nile tilapia fed... 48
Fig. 17. Myeloperoxidase (MPO (absorbance at 450 nm) in juvenile Nile tilapia fed on... 49
Fig. 18. Cumulative survival rate after injection of Aeromonas hydrophila of juvenile Nile tilapia fed on the six... 51