Evaluation of Dietary Supplementation of Algae Spirulina platensis on Growth Performance and Disease Resistance in White Leg Shrimp Challenge Study against Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Background: A 60-day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary Spirulina platensis (SP) on feed utilization, growth performance and disease resistance in Penaeus vannamei with Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Methods: S. platensis incorporated into isoproteic diets (35±0.5% crude protein) by partially replacing corn flour at inclusion levels of 5%, 10% and 15%, with a basal diet as the control. Juvenile shrimp (initial weight 1.15±0.08 g) were fed these experimental diets for 60 days. Result: Results indicated that shrimp fed SP-supplemented diets showed significant improvements (P less than 0.05) in final body weight, weight gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio and survival rate compared to the control. The 10% SP diet resulted in the highest crude protein and ash content and significantly lower crude lipid levels in the whole-body composition (P less than 0.05). Additionally, shrimp fed the 10% SP diet exhibited the highest survival rate (P≤0.05) and enhanced immune response while challenged with V. parahaemolyticus. These findings suggest that dietary inclusion of S. platensis at 10% optimally enhances growth performance and improves disease resistance in P. vannamei.