Immunomodulation, Fish Health and Resistance to Staphylococcus aureus of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Fed Diet Supplemented with Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles and Zinc Acetate

Recently some metal-based nanoparticles have gained serious attention from aquaculture and the fish feed industry as feed supplements. Oral supplementation of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) in fish feed, replacing Zn acetate (conventionally used zinc), is suggested as a cost-effective and efficient approach. Our study assessed the response of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, fingerlings after its diet supplemented with chemically synthesized ZnO-NPs and zinc acetate under controlled conditions. ZnO-NPs were chemically synthesized and characterized. Tilapia fingerlings with an average body weight of 09.12 +/- 1.23 g were randomly distributed into five groups. An 8-week trial was set with control and four experimental groups. Basal diet (D1) was used as control, whereas D2, D3 and D4 comprising 20, 40, and 60 mgkg(-1) ZnO-NPs supplementation were experimental diets. Additionally, D5 was composed of a basal diet supplemented with 40 mgkg(-1) of conventionally used zinc acetate. Significant improvement (P < 0.05) was found in nanoparticles and Zn acetate supplemented groups as compared to control, while the 40 mgkg(-1) Zn-NPs supplemented diet (D3) showed best performance in terms of health parameters, oxidative status and disease resistance. Antioxidant profiling was based on catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione's transferase, and malondialdehyde; hematology included Hb, WBCs, RBCs, HCT MCV, MCH and MCHC; immunological parameters comprised IgM, lysozyme activity, phagocytic activity, respiratory burst activity, cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, glucose content, and total serum proteins. We report that the D3 (40 mgkg(-1) ZnO-NPs supplementation) significantly (P < 0.05) improved health-related parameters as compared to the other groups. Moreover, D3 also showed significantly decreased mortality percentage when challenged by Staphylococcus aureus, while the Zn acetate supplemented diet group showed better results as compared to control. Overall results suggest the basal diet supplemented with 40 mgkg(-1) ZnO-NP for enhanced health parameters, oxidative status, immune response, and disease resistance. Hence, 40mgkg(-1) ZnO-NP can be recommended to formulate the practical diet of fish to boost health improvement, immunomodulation, and resistance to bacterial disease.