Influences of dietary inclusion of algae Chaetomorpha aerea enhanced growth performance, immunity, haematological response and disease resistance of Labeo rohita challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila

The present study was investigated to the sequel of dietary supplementation of algae (Chaetomorpha aerea) on growth, exploitation of food, haematological, immunological parameters and disease resistance against Aeromonas hydrophila in Labeo rohita for 28-days trial period. A total of 180 fishes with a body weight of 55 +/- 0.9 g initially, were selected and allotted to one of five dietary treatments, in which the basal diet supplemented with 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0 g kg(-1) (w/w) of C. aerea. The fishes were subjected to challenge with Aeromonas hydrophila and relative percentage of survival (%) was recorded for 14 days after the feeding trial. Accordingly, the fishes fed with C. aerea increased the growth rate, feed conversion rate, specific growth rate, haemoglobin, neutrophil and lysozyme activity, when compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Moreover, C. aerea supplementation (0.25 g kg(-1)) showed that the enhanced body weight, respiratory burst and lysozyme activity and resistance against A. hydrophila challenge. On the whole, the obtained results showed that this feeding approach can productively increase the growth and it could be considered as a probable immunostimulant in the organic aquaculture.