Day Immunity Enrichment of Freshwater Catfish Gulsa (Mystus cavasius) by Supplement Dietary Inclusion of Black Cumin Seed (Nigella sativa)

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of dietary black cumin Nigella  sativa seed on growth performance, feed utilization and disease resistance in freshwater  catfish gulsa (Mystus cavasius) against the pathogenic bacteria Aeromonus hydrophila.  Fish (1.2±0.07 g) were fed with experimental diet, containing control as commercial  feed, black cumin seed powder (BCP) 1%, and black cumin seed extract (BCE) 0.5% for  90 days culture period. After 90 days, 10 fish from each treatment group, in triplicate,  were challenged with the pathogenic bacteria Aeromonas hydrophila via intraperitoneal  injection. The fish were then monitored daily for 7 days to observe clinical signs and  record mortality rates. The growth parameters, including weight gain, specific growth  rate, protein efficiency ratio, and survival rate, showed a significant increase (p<0.05)  in fish fed BCE and BCP diets compared to the control group. In fish fed the BCE  diet, the feed conversion ratio dropped considerably (p<0.05). Fish fed with a BCEsupplemented  diet showed enhanced levels of red blood cells, hemoglobin, white blood  cells, hematocrit, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and immunoglobulin M (IgM) in  Mystus cavasius compared to those fed with the BCP diet and the control group. The  total mortality of fish challenged by A. hydrophila decreased in BCE diet group. These  findings indicate that supplementing the diet with black cumin extract has beneficial  effects on the growth and immune system of Mystus cavasius. 

J. of Sci. and Tech. Res. 6(2): 23-32, 2025