Effect of dietary Ergosan on growth performance, digestive enzymes, intestinal histology, hematological parameters and body composition of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Present study examined the effects of Ergosan on growth performance, digestive enzyme activities, hematological parameters and gastrointestinal structure of rainbow trout. Rainbow trout (mean weight 100-110 g) were fed basal diet (control) and diet treated with Aquavac Ergosan (5 g kg(-1) of diet) for 50 days. Results of this study showed that Ergosan supplementation significantly increased weight gain (94.27 g vs. 65.04 g), specific growth rate (4.09 vs. 3.10) and feed intake (136.85 g vs. 111.22 g) and decreased feed conversion ratio (1.43 vs. 2.03) compared to control (P < 0.05). Lipase activity and leukocyte and erythrocyte count also increased in juvenile fish fed Ergosan-treated diet compared to control (P < 0.05). Light microscopy demonstrated that both groups of fish displayed normal morphology of proximal intestine and pyloric caeca. In Ergosan-treated group, higher percentage of goblet cell was shown in proximal intestine and pyloric caeca. Present study suggests that Ergosan effectively promotes growth performance, lipase activity and gastrointestinal structure in rainbow trout.