Effect of <i>Tetracera potatoria</i> on growth and non specific immune response in <i>Clarias gariepinus</i>

Abstract

A 56 day study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary inclusion of Tetracera potatoria root extract (TP) on growth and haematological parameters of African catfish, Clarias gariepinus. One hundred and twenty juvenile with initial weight of 30 ± 0.3 g were randomly distributed into plastic tanks (45 L) at 10 fish /tank and replicated twice. Experimental animals were fed with commercial fish feed (42% crude protein) at 5% body weight twice a day. Group 1 animals served as control without inclusion of extract, groups 2 and 3 had 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg inclusion of TP respectively and group 4 animals had 600 mg/kg inclusion of vitamin C. The parameters were measured were weight, PCV, Hb, RBC WBC, differential WBC count, and weight of viscerals. The mean weight gain (54.5g/fish), final standard length and the viscerotropic index were significantly highest in fish supplemented with 250 mg/kg TP. There was significant change in the blood parameters of treated fish compared with control. It can be concluded that Tetracera potatoria had no toxic effects on the fish but they can serve as natural growth promoters in aquaculture production hence lead to increased productivity.

Keywords: Clarias gariepinus, growth, haematology, Tetracera potatoria