Dietary biofloc supplementation in black tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon: Effects on immunity, antioxidant and metabolic enzyme activities

Abstract

A 60‐day indoor experiment was conducted to study the effect of dietary supplementation of biofloc on metabolic enzyme activities and immune responses in Penaeus monodon juveniles. Biofloc developed in indoor fibreglass‐reinforced plastic (FRP) tanks (1000 L) was used as dietary supplement in P. monodon (2.90 ± 0.10 g) reared in 1000‐L FRP tanks. Graded level of dried biofloc was included in shrimp basal diets, 0% (control, B0), 4% (B4), 8% (B8) and 12% (B12). The level of metabolic enzymes like malate dehydrogenase (MDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was not significantly different with control up to 8% dietary supplementation. A higher level of total haemocyte count (THC) was noticed in B8 (22.16 ± 2.17 × 106 cells mL−1) and B4 (21.11 ± 0.56 × 106 cells mL−1) compared with control, C (14.61 ± 2.74 × 106 cells mL−1). Biofloc‐supplemented groups recorded significantly higher (P < 0.05) serum SOD and catalase activity (P < 0.01) in comparison with control. The groups fed with 4% dietary biofloc supplement recorded highest relative percentage survival (RPS), 45% after challenge with Vibrio harveyi followed by 36% and 27% RPS in B8 and B12 groups. Based on these results, it can be concluded that supplementation of biofloc even at 4% level in the feed improves immune responses and metabolic activities in black tiger shrimp juveniles.