The purpose of the current study was to assess the efect of dietary supplements of either
aqueous (AE) or ethanolic (EE) (Juniperus communis) leaf extracts on growth performance, intestinal health, hemato-biochemical indices, antioxidant, infammation cytokine
responses, and resistances against infection in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. Fish
groups were controlled with no extract (J1) and fed diets (J2, J3, J4, and J5) containing
1.0 and 2.0 g/kg aqueous and ethanolic extract for 60 days. Fish were given an intraperitoneal injection (IP) of Aeromonas hydrophila for 10 days after the feeding trial; then, the
fsh mortality was recorded. Growth, feed efciency, and activity of endogenous enzymes
(lipase, trypsin, chymotrypsin, and amylase) were signifcantly improved in all dietary J.
communis groups, especially in J5, compared to other groups. Also, J5 showed the highest absorption area, muscularis, goblet cells, villi width, and fewer gut bacterial counts
than the other groups. In addition, the J4 and J5 groups of tilapia fsh exhibited a signifcant increase in the levels of total protein, serum albumin, globulin, hemoglobin, white
blood cells, and hematocrit (P |
