Ameliorative Role of Dietary Spirulina platensis on Sumithion-Induced Growth Suppression and Intestinal Histopathological Alterations in Striped Catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus)

Abstract

Sumithion is commonly used pesticides to eradicate tiger bugs from aquaculture ponds; nevertheless, it adversely affects non-target species, particularly fish. The microalga (Spirulina platensis) could mitigate the sumithion-induced adverse effects in fish. Regarding this, the investigation was executed to mitigate the adverse effects of sumithion by Spirulina supplementation in diet to striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus). During the 42-days experimental period, a total 240 of striped catfish fingerlings (10.82±1.34 g) were reared to four different treatments, including control, sumithion (0.6 mg/L), Spirulina (50g/kg feed at 3-5% body weight) and combined treatment (Spirulina + sumithion) with three replicates each.  Sumithion treatment resulted in considerably decreased (p<0.05) the levels of FBW, GW and SGR (%/day) as well as increased FCR. In contrast to the sumithion treatment, the Spirulina treatment resulted in significantly (p<0.05) higher FBW, WG, and SGR (%/day), along with a lower FCR value. However, sumithion treated fish exhibited impaired structure of intestine and decreased the goblet cells and enterocyte number. In contrast, Spirulina either alone or with sumithion, significantly (p<0.05) improved intestinal structure, growth and feed efficiency. The present study unveiled the implementation of dietary Spirulina to be an effective approach to mitigate sumithion-induced stress and optimize health condition in striped catfish by improving histological index of intestine and growth indices.