Aquaculture 2025

March 6 - 10, 2025

New Orleans, Louisiana USA

Add To Calendar 07/03/2025 15:15:0007/03/2025 15:35:00America/ChicagoAquaculture 2025EVALUATING THE IMMUNOMODULATORY EFFECTS OF PHYTOCHEMICALS IN FARMED TILAPIA AND BASS IN FARMED CONDITIONGalerie 6The World Aquaculture Societyjohnc@was.orgfalseDD/MM/YYYYanrl65yqlzh3g1q0dme13067

EVALUATING THE IMMUNOMODULATORY EFFECTS OF PHYTOCHEMICALS IN FARMED TILAPIA AND BASS IN FARMED CONDITION

Elena Deng*, Shah Sumaiya Khaled, and Ahmed Mustafa

*Presenting Author

 

Department of Biological Sciences

Purdue University Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne, IN 46805

Email: mustafaa@pfw.edu

 



The world is undergoing global food shortage, a transition of food source from traditional meat sources to more sustainable alternatives like aquacultured fish is pending, which shows great potential to improve food productivity. However, factors like overcrowding, poor husbandry practices are posing chronic stress and challenging farmed fish’s immunology, and due to this reason, the fish would not get enough production and even have high mortality. Due to the special characteristic of aquatic systems, natural products are preferred in managing this problem to minimize the impact to aquatic systems. Therefore, we are studying phytochemical’s capacity of modulating immunity of fishes. We chose Nile tilapia and bass for their high adaptivity and high reproduction rate. We separate the fishes into four groups, Group 1 completely controlled, Group 2 with controlled feeding and stress factors; Group 3 with enhancer chosen and controlled environment; and Group 4 with stress factors and enhancers. The experiment will last for about 8 weeks and we will assess the immunity by evaluating factors including Hematological Parameters, Lysozyme Activity, Phagocytic Activity, Cortisol Levels. The expected result is Group 1 serving as baseline with normal growth rate, survival rates and immune responses; Group 2 show decreased immune function due to stress, slower growth and higher mortality; Group 3 by contrast, show improved immune responses, higher growth rate and lower mortality; Group 4 improved immune function, lower mortality and higher productivity compared to Group 2, but maybe slightly lower than Group 3. The result will help identify the potential of phytochemicals as natural immunomodulators in aquatic farming, contributing to higher and more sustainable fish productivity.