title: Dietary Aloe vera improves plasma lipid profile, antioxidant, and hepatoprotective enzyme activities in GIFT-tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) after Streptococcus iniae challenge.
abstract: The current study investigated the effects of dietary Aloe vera on plasma lipid profile status, antioxidant, and hepatoprotective enzyme activities of GIFT-tilapia juveniles under Streptococcus iniae challenge. Five dietary groups were designed including a control and 100 % Aloe powder incorporated into a tilapia feed at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 %/kg feed, which were administered for 8 weeks. Fish fed dietary Aloe at 4 %/kg feed significantly reduced in total cholesterol, while triacylglycerol reduced (P < 0.05) in those fed 0.5, 2, and 4 % Aloe/kg feed compared to unsupplemented ones. High-density lipoprotein was significantly elevated in fish fed 0.5 and 1 % Aloe/kg feed compared to unsupplemented ones, and no significant changes (P > 0.05) were noted in low-density lipoprotein among test groups. Furthermore, high activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxide in liver tissues were observed in Aloe-supplemented fish compared to unsupplemented ones, before and after S. iniae challenge (7.7 × 10(6) CFU cells/mL). Variations were also noted in malondialdehyde activity throughout the trial, but no significant difference (P > 0.05) was observed between groups. Meanwhile, Aloe-supplemented fish reduced serum aspartate and alanine aminotransferase (AST and ALT) activities before and after challenge. Based on the second-order polynomial regression analysis, dietary Aloe inclusion levels less than or equal to 1.88, 1.86, and 2.79 %/kg feed were determined to be suitable in improving plasma lipid profile status, antioxidant, and hepatoprotective enzyme activities in GIFT-tilapia in this study, respectively. Thus, A. vera extracts may be recommended as a tilapia feed supplement to enhance fish antioxidant and hepatoprotective capacities, especially during disease outbreaks.
authors.affiliation: Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi, 214081, China. nthankizo@yahoo.com.|Directorate of Aquaculture, Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Hardap, Namibia. nthankizo@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Ndakalimwe Naftal
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Gabriel
authors.affiliation: Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi, 214081, China.|China Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fisheries and Germplasm Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi, 214081, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qiang
authors.affiliation: Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi, 214081, China.
authors.forename: Xin Yu
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi, 214081, China.|China Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fisheries and Germplasm Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi, 214081, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi, 214081, China. xup@ffrc.cn.|China Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fisheries and Germplasm Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi, 214081, Jiangsu, China. xup@ffrc.cn.
authors.forename: Pao
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi, 214081, China.|China Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fisheries and Germplasm Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi, 214081, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000504:Aloe; D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D023681:Cichlids; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000145:classification*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D008055:Lipids
keywords: Aloe vera; Antioxidative stress; Aquaculture; Streptococcus; Tilapia