Integrated Comparative Impacts of Using Dietary Supplementation Plant Wastes (Opuntia Ficus-Indica, Moringa Oleifera and Telfairia Occidentalis) on HematoBiochemical Blood Status of Oreochromis Niloticus Exposed to Mercury Toxicity.

The present study was conducted to investigate the role of using the plant-based wastes as a supplementary diet in improving the hemato-biochemical blood status of Oreochromis niloticus and resistance against mercuric chloride toxicity (0.08 mg/l). Fish were distributed (10 fish/40-liter aquarium) into 8 groups. Control group and MC0.08 group were fed on a commercial diet; MC/OFI5% & MC/OFI10% fed on a commercial diet supplemented with 5% and 10% Opuntia ficus-indica; MC/MO5% & MC/MO10% fed on a diet supplemented with 5% and 10% Moringa Oleifera; and MC/TO5% & MC/TO10% fed on diet supplemented with 5% and 10% Telfairia occidentalis. The experiment extended for 60 days in triplicates. The obtained results showed a significant increase (P<0.05) in WBCs, MCH, MCHC, glucose, cholesterol, uric acid, triglyceride, creatinine, and total bilirubin in MC0.08 group compared to the control group. And a significant decrease in RBCs, HGB, MCV, HCT, protein, albumin, and globulin was noticed. Alteration in levels of GOT and GPT was also observed due to the toxic metal exposure. All diet supplementations improved the tested blood parameters (RBCs, HGB, MCV, HCT, protein, albumin, and globulin) compared to MC0.08 group. A reduction was noticed in WBCs, MCH, MCHC, glucose, cholesterol, uric acid, triglyceride, total bilirubin, creatinine, GOT, and GPT. The degree of improvement among the three tested supplementations was arranged as Moringa Oleifera followed by Opuntia ficus-indica and Telfairia occidentalis. It was found that TO10% can be efficient in enhancing fish health and blood characteristics. The dose 10 …