Enhanced Disease Resistance in Striped Catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) Fed Jamun (Syzygium cumini) Leaf Meal Following Aeromonas hydrophila Challenge

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of dietary supplementation with Syzygium cumini leaf meal on the disease resistance of Pangasianodon hypophthalmus fingerlings against Aeromonas hydrophila infection. Fish were fed five experimental diets containing graded levels of S. cumini leaf meal (Control: 0%, T1: 0.5%, T2: 1.0%, T3: 1.5%, and T4: 2.0%) for 60 days, followed by an intraperitoneal challenge with A. hydrophila and were monitored for 14 days. The T2 group exhibited the lowest cumulative mortality (13.33%), resulting in the highest post-challenge survival. These findings indicate that dietary supplementation with 1% S. cumini leaf meal effectively enhances disease resistance in P. hypophthalmus, highlighting its potential as a natural phytobiotic for sustainable aquaculture.