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This study evaluated the effects of Biocide, containing silicon tetrahedrons and organic acids, on growth performance, feed utilization, immune response, and oxidative status in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). A total of 300 Nile tilapia fingerlings (initial weight: 3.55 ± 0.01 g) were distributed across 15 tanks and fed diets containing 0.0 (control), 0.25, 0.5, 1, and 2 g kg⁻¹ Biocide for 90 days, with three replicate tanks per treatment. Biocide is enriched with organic acids (fumaric acid and citric acid) and amino acids (glutamine, tyrosine, methionine, serine, and threonine). Fish fed Biocide-supplemented diets demonstrated significantly improved growth performance, with the highest weight gain, feed conversion ratio, and protein efficiency ratio observed in the 1 g kg⁻¹ group. Survival rates did not differ significantly among treatments. Whole-body crude protein content peaked in the 1 g kg⁻¹ group, while moisture, lipid, and ash contents remained unchanged. Hematological parameters, including red blood cell count, hemoglobin concentration, and packed cell volume, improved significantly. Serum lipid profiles showed reduced cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, and very-low-density lipoprotein levels, alongside increased high-density lipoprotein levels, particularly in the 1 g kg⁻¹ group. Antioxidant enzyme activities (catalase, glutathione peroxidase) and total antioxidant capacity were significantly elevated in the liver and intestine, while malondialdehyde levels decreased. Digestive enzyme activities (amylase, lipase, and protease) were markedly enhanced. Histopathological analysis revealed improved liver, stomach, and intestinal morphology, including increased mucous secretion and enhanced intestinal villi structure, in fish fed 1 g kg⁻¹ Biocide. In conclusion, Biocide supplementation, particularly at 1 g kg⁻¹, significantly improved growth performance, feed utilization, immune function, and antioxidant capacity in Nile tilapia. Notably, the findings highlight Biocide's primary mode of action on gut health, underscoring its potential as a dietary additive for improving aquaculture productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an interesting in using of medical and aromatic plants or spices as feed additives in fish diets instead of chemical products to avoid side effects and achieve organic aquaculture. Feeding experiment was conducted to evaluate the growth of the Nile tilapia fingerlings fed four isonitrogenous (30% crude protein) experimental diets containing different levels 0.0% (control), 1.0%, 1.5%, or 2% of Moringa lectin (MLM). The diet containing 1.5% MLM resulted in significantly greater (P < 0.05) specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR). Moreover, PER and APU values increased significantly at MLM-supplemented diets. While, there was no significant difference among all treatments of MLM in EU%. In regard to body composition, there was no significant difference in dry matter, lipids, and ash (P > 0.05) contents due to lectin supplementation. While, crude protein content increased significantly by increasing the MLM levels (P<0.05). Blood plasma profile showed an improvement in hemoglobin (HB), red blood cell (RBCS), hematocrite (Hct), WBCs, Lymphocytic, Monocytic, Granulocyte, glucose and gloubin, while, there was a decrease in total protein, total lipids, decrease in creatinine, urea, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and cholesterol in fish fed 1.5% MLM. Moringa lectin supplementation enhance non-specific immune response of O. niloticus as lysozyme activity and respiratory burst activity showed significant increase in group fed 1.5 MLM then group fed 2 % followed by 1 % than control group. Moringa lectin was found to have an antibacterial activity antagonistic to Aeromonas hydrophila infection in fish. Improvement in Superoxide dismutase activity (SOD), Catalase activity (CAT), Glutathione S-transferase (GST) and Malondialdehyde (MDA) activities were observed at 1.5% MLM activities which was consistent with the immune response. Performance and FCR improvement translated into a 22.74% decrease in feed costs associated with the 2% MLM diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]