Non-specific immune responses, stress resistance and growth performance of Caspian roach (Rutilus caspicus) fed diet supplemented with earthworm (Eisenia foetida) extract

Abstract This study was conducted to evaluate the amino acid profile of earthworm ( Eisenia foetida ) extract (EFE) and its dietary effects on serum immune parameters, resistance to salinity stress and growth performance of Caspian roach fingerling ( Rutilus caspicus ) in a feeding experiment. Three triplicated treatments (two levels of dietary earthworm extracts diluted with distilled water includes 1:25 [T1] and 1:50 [T2] and one diet with no extract distilled water as a control diet) were prepared and fed to fingerlings)4.30 ± 0.10 g) stocked in nine 100 L tanks. The amino acid profile analysis demonstrated presence of 16 amino acids (Aspartic acid, Glutamic acid, Serine, Histidine, Glycine, Threonine, Arginine, Tryptophan, Alanine, Tyrosine, Methionine, Valine, Phenylalanine, Isoleucine, leucine and lysine) in the earthworm extract. Additionally, at the end of 8-week feeding trial, fish fed E. foetida extracts showed notably higher serum total Ig and lysozyme activity ( P E. foetida diluted extract (1:25 V/V) fed treatment (P  P P E. foetida diluted extract (1:25 V/V) exhibited the best results.