Effects of Dietary Aloe barbadensis (Aloeaceae) Leaves on the Intestinal Microbes of African Catfish (Clarias Gariepinus Burchell 1822)

Authors: Adegbesan SI* and Obasa SO

DOI: 10.23880/izab-16000221

Volume 3, Issue 2

Abstract

Effects of Aloe barbadensis leaves-paste were examined in Clarias gariepinus fingerlings. Fish were fed diet supplemented with the leaves-paste to determine the effects of the leaves on the intestinal microbes of C. gariepinus fingerlings. Its effects on some growth parameters were also assessed. Experiment was conducted in 40-litre freshwater-filled plastic tanks. 120 C. gariepinus fingerlings (2.33±0.07g) were fed with 40% crude protein diets containing three concentrations of A. barbadensis leavespaste: ABL1-1%; ABL2-2%; ABL3-3%, and control-0% ad libitum twice daily for 12 weeks. Mean weight gain and percentage weight gain increased (p0.05) in the total bacterial counts (TBC) in A. barbadensis leaves-paste supplemented diets and the control having the highest TBC (23.67 ± 0.88 x 105 CFU/ml). No growth of total fungal counts (TFC) was observed in ABL1 and there was a reduction in TFC as the concentration increased in the other supplemented diets, and the control having the highest TFC (7.67 ± 0.44 x 105CFU/ml) The study concluded that 1% A. barbadensis leavespaste could effectively improve the growth performance, nutrient utilization, survival and thus reducing the microbial load of cultured C. gariepinus.

Keywords: Growth Performance; Aloe barbadensis leaves-Paste; Dietary Supplement; Clarias Gariepinus

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