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Email the author (Login required) Effect of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection on the survival of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fed with aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis)
Submited: 2025-10-15 02:30:35 | Published: 2026-06-30 22:44:54
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3856/vol54-issue3-fulltext-3551
Abstract
Medicinal plants have been increasingly used in aquaculture nutrition as natural alternatives to antibiotics to control bacterial diseases, including those caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Aloe barbadensis Miller is recognized as a medicinal plant rich in bioactive compounds that can improve survival and enhance resistance to pathogenic agents. This study evaluated the survival of Oreochromis niloticus fed diets supplemented with A. barbadensis and challenged with P. aeruginosa via immersion and intraperitoneal injection, without considering immune parameters. Three bioassays were conducted with Nile tilapia juveniles: bioassay 1 (2.86 ± 0.26 g), bioassays 2 and 3 (3.25 ± 0.30 g). In bioassay 1, infection was performed by immersion, and in bioassay 2 by intraperitoneal injection; in both cases, diets containing A. barbadensis (0, 0.5, 1.5, and 2.5% kg-1 of feed) were evaluated. In bioassay 3, only the 1.5% concentration was tested by intraperitoneal injection, and a post-mortem examination was performed. The results showed that in bioassay 1, the lowest survival rate (80%) was observed in TIV (2.5% A. barbadensis), which differed significantly (P < 0.05) from the control TI (100%). In bioassay 2, the highest survival rate (90%) was observed in TI, with significant differences (P < 0.05) compared to TII and TV. In bioassay 3, TII without A. barbadensis showed the lowest survival rate (52.38%), which differed significantly from TI and TIII (P < 0.05). Therefore, this study enabled a controlled evaluation of the effect of A. barbadensis on the survival of O. niloticus by reducing mortality during P. aeruginosa infection.
