Effect of adding earthworms and earthworm castings to feed on growth performance and immune indicators of Macrobrachium rosenbergii

ZHU Guanglai; QIU Ganggang; GUO Fengming; CAO Leiting; CHENG Hui; LI Guohua; CHEN Kelin

doi:10.13557/j.cnki.issn1002-2813.2025.14.012

Abstract：The experiment aimed to investigate the effects of earthworms and earthworm castings(EEC)on the growth performance and immune indicators of Macrobrachium rosenbergii.A total of 960 healthy Macrobrachium rosenbergii with a weight of(2.73±0.11)g were randomly divided into four groups,with eight replicates per group,and 30 shrimps per replicate.The experimental groups Ⅰ(control group),Ⅱ,Ⅲ,and Ⅳ were fed diet added with 0,3％,6％,12％EEC,respectively.The pre-test period was three days and the formal test period was 60 days.The results showed that compared with the experimental group Ⅰ,the final weight of Macrobrachium rosenbergii in experimental groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ was significantly increased by 2.43％and 4.05％,respectively(P＜0.05).The specific growth rate,weight gain rate,and fatness in experimental group Ⅲ were significantly increased by 3.35％,5.81％,and 4.46％,respectively(P＜0.05).The liver pancreatic gland index in experimental groups Ⅲ and Ⅳ was significantly increased(P＜0.05).Compared with experimental group Ⅰ,the serum catalase(CAT)activity in experimental group Ⅲ was significantly increased(P＜0.05),and the serum lysozyme(LZM)activity in experimental groups Ⅲ and Ⅳ was significantly increased(P＜0.05).The activities of CAT,LZM,and acid phosphatase(ACP)in the liver and pancreas of experimental groups Ⅲ and Ⅳ were significantly increased(P＜0.05),while the activity of alkaline phosphatase(AKP)in experimental group Ⅲ was significantly increased(P＜0.05).Compared with experimental group Ⅰ,the mRNA expression level of Toll like receptors in experimental groups Ⅱ,Ⅲ,and Ⅳ was significantly upregulated(P＜0.05),the mRNA expression level of nuclear factor-κB in experimental group Ⅲ was significantly upregulated(P＜0.05),and the mRNA expression level of lectins in experimental groups Ⅲ and Ⅳ was significantly upregulated(P＜0.05).The study indicates that the addition of 6％EEC can enhance the immune performance and improve the growth performance of Macrobrachium rosenbergii.