Abstract
This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of surface-modified ZrSiO4 nanoparticles on non-specific immunity, antioxidant activity, cytokines gene expression and mortality of the shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei juveniles challenged with Vibrio harveyi. Four diets were prepared to be supplemented with ZrSiO4 NPs-SDS as follows: 0, 20, 40 or 60 mg Kg‐−1 diet. These ZrSiO4 NPs-SDS supplemented diets were fed to L. vannamei juveniles (2.5 ± 0.5 g) for 50 days. The results revealed that ZrSiO4 NPs-SDS significantly increased phagocytosis, respiratory burst, lysozyme activity and alternative complement activity of L. vannamei compared with the control. The results also indicated that dietary ZrSiO4 NPs-SDS significantly improved superoxide dismutase, phenoloxidase, glutathione peroxidase activities and reduced malondialdehyde of L. vannamei compared with the control. All shrimp groups fed ZrSiO4 NPs-SDS exhibited significant up-regulation in the immune related genes (IL-1β, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α and IFN-γ). Moreover, the supplementation of dietary ZrSiO4 NPs-SDS significantly reduced alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and mortality of L. vannamei. Thus, the inclusion of ZrSiO4 NPs-SDS in the diet improved non-specific immunity, antioxidant activity and hepatic functions of L. vannamei juveniles and enhanced their resistance to V. harveyi. The recommended level of ZrSiO4 NPs-SDS is 40 mg Kg−1 diet.
•Dietary ZrSiO4 NPs-SDS enhances the non-specific immunity of the shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei.•Dietary ZrSiO4 NPs-SDS improves the antioxidant activity of the shrimp L. vannamei.•Dietary ZrSiO4 NPs-SDS up-regulates the cytokine genes expression of the shrimp L. vannamei.•Dietary ZrSiO4 NPs-SDS improves the survival rate and resistance of the shrimp L. vannamei against V. harveyi.•Dietary ZrSiO4 NPs-SDS can be considered as an immune enhancing agent for the shrimp.