Effect of adding Dunaliella algae to fish diet on lead acetate toxicity and gene expression in the liver of Nile tilapia

The present study was intended for investigating the effect of lead acetate toxicity (5 or 10 mg lead acetate/liter water), Dunaliella algae (11 g/kg diet)-supplemented diet and their interaction in Nile tilapia (60 days). 180 fish were divided into six groups according to lead concentration and Dunaliella supplementation. Results revealed that lead significantly (p <= 0.05) reduced growth performance parameters and decreased serum antioxidant enzyme activities, fish body crude protein, and liver antioxidant enzymes gene expression. Moreover, the lead residue was significantly increased with marked degeneration and necrosis of hepatocytes. But dietary supplementation of Dunaliella algae with/without lead improved measurements.

Automated summary

The study found that lead acetate had significant negative effects on the growth and health of Nile tilapia, but dietary supplementation of Dunaliella algae can alleviate these effects to some extent.