Abstract. A 56-day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of processing time, inclusion level and/or their interactions on serum biochemistry, haematology and histology of the liver and kidney of Clarias gariepinus fed diets containing Luffa cylindrica seedmeal. The five formulated diets were designated as control (CTR) and tested, replaced at 15 and 30% by 5- and 10-min toasted Luffa cylindrica seedmeal (D515T, D530T, D1015T and D1030T). The experimental design followed a 2×2 factorial experiment in a completely randomised design; the processing time of 5- and 10-min toasting and inclusion level of 15 and 30% serves as factors. Triplicate groups of each treatment were made. Blood sampling, harvesting of organs, serum biochemistry, histology and haematological studies followed standard procedures. The results of the study showed that the effect of processing time, inclusion level and their interactions had significant impact (p<0.05) on Clarias gariepinus. A decrease in RBC, PCV and Hb was observed when compared with control for inclusion level, processing time and/or their interaction. Total protein, albumin and globulin of the blood of fish fed diet CTR was not significantly different (p>0.05) from that of the blood of the fish fed D1015T. Mild to moderate vacuolation of the hepatocytes were recorded among the livers of fish fed control and test dietary treatments except those fed D1030T that recorded very severe vacuolation of the hepatocytes. The kidney, being the excretory organ, was also affected. However, normal cell architecture was recorded in fish fed CTR, D530T and D1030T.
Effects of herbal plants (Zingiber officinale and Hibiscus sabdariffa) as dietary additives on serum biochemistry and some metabolites in Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822)
