Potential safetyness of sodium alginate in alleviation of ammonia and heavy metals residues in fish ponds of oreochromis niloticus

Abstract EN

This study was carried out to explore the efficacy of sodium alginate-a byproduct of sea weeds-in combating some pollutants in fish cultures, typically ammonia and heavy metal residues in different stages of fish life as well as the effect of alginate on the overall fish health, monitored by certain serum enzymes and some hematological investigations.

Alginate alleviates ammonia at ratios ranging from 52.3-60.5 % in fry aquaria, fed either on ration or sabla respectively and consequently an improvement in the DO concentration percentage with 16- 15.7 % when matched with the counterpart control of both food regimes, on a similar manner, in the fingerlings groups; an amelioration in ammonia ranged from 16.2–23 %, pursuit with 15-11.5 % improvement in the DO percent.

Studying alginate with frequent doses, with an interval of 10 days on adult fish; an improvement of ammonia concentration had been noted revealing 48.2, 46.2 and 41.9 % for the single, double and triple dosing with also, a subsequent improve in DO concentrations as 11.7, 10.8 and 5.6 % respectively.

The binding capacity of alginates for heavy metals residues (Cadmium, Nickel, Lead, Manganese, Iron and Copper) in fish, showed a significant effect only in diminishing Lead, Manganese and Iron in fry fed ration and highly significant effect for all metals except Lead in fry fed sabla.

The significant effect of alginates was only restricted to Manganese and Iron in fingerlings fed ration, whilst had no significance for that fed sabla.

Exploring the general health condition of adult fish supplemented with frequent doses of alginates; exhibited a gradual increase in the erythrocytes and leucocytes counts in all doses as well as an increase in the hemoglobin content in the fish’s blood.

On the other hand, estimation of some liver enzymes (AsT and AlT) in the fish’s sera, revealed declined values, compared with that of control, even though cessation of administration of alginate 10 days later, creatinine as one of the kidney functions, infrequently fluctuates, but returned back to normal as that of the control.

The albumin concentration in the fish’s sera was also decreased than the control value; from all of which, alginate can provide a safety support in fish culture for health and performance.