Effect of Stachyose on Growth, Non-Specific Immune Response, and Disease Resistance in Oreochromis Niloticus

Abstract The study was conducted to investigate the effects of stachyose on immune responses, gut morphology, growth, and disease resistance in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Fishes were distributed randomly into fifteen 150 L glass tanks with 20 fish tank− 1 and fed control (0 g/kg), 2 g/kg, 4 g/kg, 8 g/kg, and 16 g/kg of stachyose. After eight weeks of experimental feeding, skin mucus and serum innate immune parameters (lysozyme, alternative complement, phagocytosis, peroxidase), and growth performance (weight gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio) were analysed, and disease resistance against Streptococcus agalactiae was also determined. Supplementation of stachyose revealed that serum lysozyme, serum and mucus peroxidase activities, weight gain and disease resistance against Streptococcus agalactiae were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher compared to control fed fish. In contrast, specific growth ratio, phagocytic activity and mucus lysozyme did not show significant (P > 0.05) differences.