Pumpkin seed oil-loaded chitosan nanoparticles enhance growth, digestive enzymes, and immune response in whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei): Impacts on histopathology and survival against Vibrio parahaemolyticus
El‐Sayed Hemdan Eissa, Wesam M. Salama, Samia Elbahnaswy, Mai A.M. El-Son, Zienab E. Eldin, S. Amer, Layla A. Almutairi, Fatma Mohamed Ameen Khalil, Safia M.A. Bahshwan, Mada M. AL-Qurashi, Yasmin M. Abd El‐Aziz, Moaheda E. H. Eissa, Aiman Alsaegh, Roshmon Thomas Mathew, El Rizk
Abstract
The research evaluated the innovative effects of pumpkin seed oil-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (ChNPs/PSO) on the growth, body composition, digestive enzymes, immune response, organ histopathology, and survivability of whiteleg shrimp ( Litopenaeus vannamei ) juveniles against Vibrio parahaemolyticus . Shrimp were fed basal diets (control diets and 1 g of free nano chitosan; ChNPs) supplemented with ChNPs and different levels of ChNPs/PSO at 1 (ChNPs+PSO 1 ), 1.5 (ChNPs+PSO 1.5 ), and 2 (ChNPs+PSO 2 ) mL/kg for a continuous 60 days period. At the end of the feeding trial, shrimp juveniles were exposed to V. parahaemolyticus . The results showed that dietary inclusion of ChNPs/PSO (1.5 or 2 mL) significantly improved the final weight, feed conversion ratio, weight gain, and specific growth rate of shrimp compared to other groups (P < 0.05). Shrimp fed diets supplemented with 1.5 or 2 mL of ChNPs/PSO demonstrated significantly higher survival rates compared to other groups. These groups also exhibited significant increases in crude protein, ash content, phagocytic index, superoxide dismutase, and lipase levels (P < 0.05). The ChNPs+PSO 2 group showed the highest amylase activity (P < 0.05). Furthermore, shrimp in these groups displayed significantly elevated total hemocyte counts, lysozyme activity, and bactericidal capacity (P < 0.05). Besides, a significant increase in phenoloxidase and phagocytic activities was observed in the ChNPs+PSO 1 group (P < 0.05). The expression levels of prophenoloxidase ( LvproPO ) and hemocyanin ( LvHc ) genes were significantly increased in the hepatopancreas of shrimp fed diets enriched with 1.5 or 2 mL of ChNPs/PSO. The survival rate after infection with V. parahaemolyticus was higher in all ChNPs/PSO-enriched groups compared to the control group. Dietary supplementation with ChNPs/PSO restored the histological damages in the muscle, hepatopancreas, and intestine induced by V. parahaemolyticus infection. In summary, pumpkin seed oil-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (ChNPs/PSO) hold potential as a feed additive for enhancing growth performance, immune ability, and disease resistance against V. parahaemolyticus in Whiteleg shrimp. • This work assess the effects of pumpkin seed oil loaded-chitosan nanoparticles on growth and immune responses of L. vannamei . • Dietary pumpkin seed oil loaded-chitosan nanoparticles reinforced the growth performance and digestive enzymes. • Dietary pumpkin seed oil loaded-chitosan nanoparticles improved immune responses in Whiteleg shrimp ( L. vannamei ). • Dietary pumpkin seed oil loaded-chitosan nanoparticles enhanced histopathology. • Dietary pumpkin seed oil loaded-chitosan nanoparticles reinforced the survivability against Vibrio parahaemolyticus .