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*Corresponding Author: P. Ruby,
A 60-day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary Spirulina platensis (SP) on feed utilization, growth performance and disease resistance in Penaeus vannamei with Vibrio parahaemolyticus.
S. platensis incorporated into isoproteic diets (35±0.5% crude protein) by partially replacing corn flour at inclusion levels of 5%, 10% and 15%, with a basal diet as the control. Juvenile shrimp (initial weight 1.15±0.08 g) were fed these experimental diets for 60 days.
Results indicated that shrimp fed SP-supplemented diets showed significant improvements (P<0.05) in final body weight, weight gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio and survival rate compared to the control. The 10% SP diet resulted in the highest crude protein and ash content and significantly lower crude lipid levels in the whole-body composition (P<0.05). Additionally, shrimp fed the 10% SP diet exhibited the highest survival rate (P≤0.05) and enhanced immune response while challenged with V. parahaemolyticus. These findings suggest that dietary inclusion of S. platensis at 10% optimally enhances growth performance and improves disease resistance in P. vannamei.
Immune parameters, Penaeus vannamei, Spirulina platensis, Vibrio parahaemolyticus