Dietary Wood and Activated Charcoal Improved Ammonium Removal, Heavy Metals Detoxification, Growth Performance, Blood Biochemistry, Carcass Traits, and Histopathology of European Seabass

Ashraf I G Elhetawy; Mohamed M Abdel-Rahim; Ahmed E Sallam; Shimaa A Shahin; Ayman M A Lotfy; Mohammed F El Basuini

doi:10.1155/2023/8860652

Dietary Wood and Activated Charcoal Improved Ammonium Removal, Heavy Metals Detoxification, Growth Performance, Blood Biochemistry, Carcass Traits, and Histopathology of European Seabass

Aquac Nutr. 2023 Nov 10:2023:8860652. doi: 10.1155/2023/8860652. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Ashraf I G Elhetawy¹, Mohamed M Abdel-Rahim¹, Ahmed E Sallam¹, Shimaa A Shahin², Ayman M A Lotfy¹, Mohammed F El Basuini^{3

4}

Affiliations

¹ Aquaculture Division, National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries NIOF, Cairo, Egypt.
² Animal and Fish Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture Saba-basha, Alexandria, P.O. Box 21531, Alexandria University, Egypt.
³ Animal Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Egypt.
⁴ Faculty of Desert Agriculture, King Salman International University, Tur Sinai, South Sinai, Egypt.

Abstract

A 120-day growth trial was completed to assess rearing water quality and fish performance in terms of growth, feed efficacy, digestive enzymes, immunity, and antioxidant activity of seabass fed an experimental diet (ED) supplemented with commercial wood charcoal (WC) and activated wood charcoal (AC). Three levels (0, 10, and 20 g) of WC and AC were administered, representing five treatments: control (CD) fish-fed ED without additives, (WC-1) fish-fed ED containing 10 g kg^-1 WC, (WC-2) fish-fed ED containing 20 g kg^-1 WC, (AC-1) fish-fed ED containing 10 g kg^-1 AC, and (AC-2) fish-fed ED containing 20 g kg^-1 AC. Three hundred fish (60.12 ± 0.20 g/fish) were stocked in 15 cement tanks (4.0 m × 2.0 m × 1.2 m, water volume 5 m³ each) at 20 fish/tank and a daily feed ration of 3% of body weight. Results revealed significant improvements with increased growth variables (final weight, weight gain, and specific growth rate), decreased FCR, and decreased ammonia levels and heavy metals (Cu, Cd, Fe, Mn, and Zn) content in rearing water, muscle, and liver with fish fed WC and AC supplemented diets. Furthermore, considerable improvements in digestive enzymes, immunity, and antioxidant activity, with enhanced kidneys, liver, intestines, gills, and spleen. Fish fed the WC-1 diet had a higher final weight (171.90 g), better FCR (1.25), and improved internal organs than the other groups.