Effects of Blending Curcuma longa Hydrolate and Lactobacillus plantarum on the Growth and Health of Nile Tilapia

In the present study, Curcuma longa (CL) hydrolate and the probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum (LP) were provided as dietary supplements to Nile tilapia. One hundred ninety-two juvenile tilapias (2.25 +/- 0.14 g and 4.5 +/- 0.10 cm) were distributed in sixteen experimental units, and four experimental groups were established: CL [CUR]: fish fed a diet supplemented with CL hydrolate at 2.5%; probiotic [PRO]: a diet supplemented with LP; LP + CL [COMB]: diet supplemented with the LP strain cultivated in media supplemented with 2.5% CL hydrolate; and control [CTRL]: diet without supplementation. After 70 days, the final average weight was significantly greater in the PRO group (33.26 +/- 1.12 g) than in the CTRL and CUR groups, whereas the specific growth rate was significantly greater in the PRO and COMB groups than in the CTRL and CUR groups. Feed conversion decreased significantly in the PRO group (1.03 +/- 0.11). Dietary supplementation did not change the body composition of tilapia. Leukocyte and lymphocyte counts were greater in the PRO treatment than in the CTRL group. Compared with those in the CTRL group, total serum protein was significantly increased in the PRO group. Immunoglobulins were higher in the COMB and PRO groups. In the experimental challenge, all the fish in the treated groups presented lower cumulative mortality rates. The combination of LP and CL improved the growth parameters of Nile tilapia.