The effect of ginger, Zingiber officinale powder on growth indices, body chemical compositions and non-specific immune responses of red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii

Baradaran Noveiri, Fardin; Allaf Noverian, Hamid; Khoshkholgh, Majidreza; Mosapour Shajani, Majid

doi:10.22124/janb.2024.27799.1248

The effect of ginger, Zingiber officinale powder on growth indices, body chemical compositions and non-specific immune responses of red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Fisheries Department, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Guilan, Sowmeh Sara, Guilan, Iran

10.22124/janb.2024.27799.1248

Abstract

Introduction: The red swamp crayfish is native to southern USA and north-eastern Mexico. It has been introduced into the most continents for aquaculture and aquarium ornamental animals. Farm intensification in recent years has increased the incidence and severity of infectious diseases. Using herbs to prevent aquaculture disease highlights a more environmental friendly method of disease control. Ginger is often used as a medicinal herb and spice. It enhances disease resistance and non-specific immunity. This study performed to find the effect of feeding with ginger powder on this species.
Materials and methods: A total number of 120 red swamp crayfish with an average weight of 2.80 ± 0.05 g were randomly distributed into aquariums and then fed with diets containing 0, 0.5, 1, and 1.5% ginger powder (T₀, T_0.5%, T₁% and T_1.5%, respectively) for 8 weeks. The growth indices and body chemicals were assessed at the end of the feeding period. Moreover, hemolymph samples were collected from the ventral abdominal sinus to evaluate immune indices.
Results and Discussion: According to the results, the growth and survival rate were significantly higher in T₁. Additionally, it showed the highest PER, LER, and the lowest FCR. Proximate compositions showed that protein was significantly increased in T₁. The lipid was decreased in T_1.5. The lowest ash content and the highest moisture level were found in T_1.5. Moreover, there was no significant difference in total hemocyte counts between T_0.5, and T_1.5. The semi-granular cells were significantly higher after dietary supplementation with 1% ginger, while the control group exhibited a significant decrease in hyaline cells.
Conclusion: This research demonstrated that using 1% ginger in diets could improve the growth of red swamp crayfish.

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