Influence of Turmeric (Curcuma longa) On Performance, Histomorphology and Microbiota of Intestine in Juvenile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

This study was conducted to evaluate the benefit-risk potentials of turmeric at different levels on performance, intestinal histomorphology and microbiota of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Two hundred forty juvenile tilapia were allocated as following: T1 (control) received basal diet only, the other treatments (T2, T3 and T4) received basal diet with turmeric at a rate of 2, 4 and 8 g/kg diet, respectively. There was a significant increase in T2 and significant decreases in both T3 and T4 as compared to control in final weight, weight gain, specific growth rate and feed efficiency ratio. In addition to significant improvement of feed intake/weight gain in T2 and depression in T3 and T4 there were non-significant changes between the treatments in final condition factor. Intestinal folds lengths showed significant increase in T2. Histomorphology of the proximal portion of small intestine showed decrease in enterocyte height in T3 and T4. The T4 group showed hydropic degeneration in the villi with the goblet cells loss with mucus lakes. Results of microbiota revealed a significant increase in both T3, T4 and a non-significant increase in T2 in total bacterial count and total lactobacillus count in comparison with control group. Fecal coliform count showed non-significant decrease in T2 and T3. In conclusion, turmeric 2 g/kg supplementation showed beneficial effects on performance and gut health,4 g/Kg showed a negative effect on the performance with non-obvious effect on gut health, and 8 g/Kg showed adverse effects on intestinal histomorphology including increased fecal coliform count and depressed growth performance.