Sustainable nutritional solutions are the focus of modern aquafeed sector. Innovative compounds that support fish growth performance and promote animal health without the use of antibiotics are encouraged to be used in salmonid farming. Being nutrition one of the fundamental pillars of animal health, adequate fish nutrition elevates animal resistance to the stressful effects that are intrinsic to the farm, besides promoting overall fish health without being detrimental to the environment or leaving residue in fish meat or water pond. Advances in the knowledge of fish nutrition and health led to the development of high-performance, natural bioactive compounds to be used as fish feed additives. Aquanat Synergy® (Jefo Nutrition Inc., Quebec, Canada) is a microencapsulated blend of organic acids (inc. sorbic acid, fumaric acid, malic acid, and citric acid) and essential oils (inc. thymol, vanillin, and eugenol). The microencapsulation technology improves the delivery efficiency of the natural bioactive compounds in fish gut. A four-week feeding trial evaluated the dietary inclusion of Aquanat Synergy® (2 inclusion level, seven replicates) on the growth performance and gut health of juvenile – adult Tilapia ( O.Mossambicus)
Proximal and distal intestine morphology was assessed by histological analysis.The dietary inclusion of Aquanat Synergy® maintained Tilapia growth, with possitive effects on fish performance. Aquanat Synergy® significantly increased fish proximal intestinal villi length, without causing intestinal edema, inflammation, or apoptosis.
Aquanat Synergy® sustained good performance in both happas and tanks for over 100 days, Aquanat Synergy® is a feasible nutritional phytogenic compound for Tilapia diet, , with a positive effect on fish gut health, and a promising alternative to control intestinal fish pathogens.