Medicinal Plant Feed Additives Enhanced Survivability and Growth Performance of Clarias gariepinus (African Catfish) against Bacterial Infection

The growth performance and survivability enhancement potential of some medicinal plant feed additives for combatting Pseudomonad infections in Clarias gariepinus were evaluated. Three medicinal plants (5 g/kg Allium sativum, 10 g/kg Chromolaena odorata and 10 g/kg Talinum triangulare) were incorporated separately into a basic diet. Juvenile Clarias gariepinus (n = 150, 53.05 ± 0.23 g), randomised into four groups, were fed for 42 days. The control group was fed with a non-supplemented diet. Growth parameters were determined and thereafter ten fish from each group, randomly selected, were inoculated intraperitoneally with pathogenic Pseudomonas aeruginosa (0.2 mL culture containing 1.4 × 106 cfu/mL). Their survivability was observed for 7 days based on mortality rate and relative level of protection (RLP). Mean weight gains were higher in all treated groups and significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the group of fish fed with 5 g/kg Allium sativum diet compared with the control. The lowest mortality rate (20%) and highest RLP (75) was recorded in the group fed with10 g/kg Chromolaena odorata. The results suggest that medicinal plant feed additives enhanced growth and survival of the cultured Clarias gariepinus. The study recommends 5 g/kg Allium sativum and 10 g/kg Chromolaena odorata diet supplementations as an effective growth promoter and anti-Pseudomonas aeruginosa agent, respectively, for Clarias gariepinus production.