Effects of long term dietary administration of β-Glucan on the growth, survival and some blood parameters of striped catfish, Pangasianodon hypophthalmus (Siluriformes: Pangasiidae)

The present experiment was undertaken to study the effect of different dosages of β-glucan on the growth, survival and physiological responses in juvenile striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus). Over nine weeks of feeding fish with a diet containing 0, 0.5, 1 and 2% β-Glucan (as control, G1, G2 and G3 group, respectively), some blood parameters such as serum lysozyme activity, total protein and glucose values as well as fish survival rate and growth performance were determined. No significant differences were observed either in the growth and survival indexes or in the glucose value in fish fed with and/or without different ratios of β-glucan. However, highest serum lysozyme activity was detected in fish fed on a diet containing 0.5% of β-glucan (10.8 µg/ml serum vs 8.00 µg/ml serum, in control group). In addition, the protein content was significantly increased in all β-glucan treatments compared to control. Thus, the administration of β-glucan might be beneficial for health enhancement in striped catfish juveniles.