Effects of Leucaena leucocephala (Lam. de Wit) leaves and seeds on Channa punctatus (Bloch and Schneider) and Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus)

Abstract

To investigate the effects on Channa punctatus (Bloch and Schneider) and Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus) after feeding Leucaena leucocephala (Lam. de Wit) leaf and seed for using as fish feed. The food was given at the rate of 2% of the body weight of fish. The observed amounts used in the bioassays were calculated in gm/kg body weight. The diet was formulated containing different levels of L. leucocephala leaf 25%, 30%, 35%, 40% and seed 20%, 25%, 30%, and 35% with small fishes. The experimental diets were given to the fishes divided into several groups on the basis of leaf and seed levels for two months. The effects of the L. leucocephala leaf and seed were considered as behavioral, physical, haematological and histopathological changes in C. punctatus and O. niloticus. The effects observed in behavior of C. punctatus and O. niloticus due to L. leucocephala leaf and seed were loss of appetite and slow movement. The physical changes of C. punctatus and O. niloticus due to L. leucocephala leaf and seed were observed i.e. lesions on skin and on caudal region, erosion of fins, puffed and loose scales, and exophthalmus. Haematological parameters (TEC, TLC, thrombocyte, lymphocyte, monocyte, eosinophil, basophil, Hb,Hct, MCV, MCH and MCHC) and biochemical parameters (protein, albumin, globulin, glucose, urea, creatinine and cholesterol) of C. punctatus and O. niloticus were determined after feeding L. leucocephala leaves and seeds. All the haematological parameters of 25% leaf group, 20% and 30% seed group of C. punctatus and 35% seed group of O. niloticus were positively correlated with control group. Positive correlation was observed in biochemical parameters of all groups of C. punctatus and O. niloticus compared with control group. In case of L. leucocephala leaf, lymphocyte and eosinophil, total protein, albumin, globulin were highly significant in C. punctatus whereas thrombocyte, lymphocyte, neotrophil, eosinophil, protein and albumin were highly significant in O. niloticus at the 5% level of significance. In case of L. leucocephala seed, albumin of C. punctatus and eosinophil of O. niloticus were highly significant at the 5% level of significance. The effects of feeding L. leucocephala leaf and seed on the number of eggs of C. punctatus and O. niloticus were highly significant at the 5% level of significance. The histopathological changes found in tissues i.e. eye, gill, muscle, stomach, intestine, liver, kidney and gonad of the experimental fishes. The effects were observed specially at higher percentages 35% and 40% of the L. leucocephala leaf and 30% and 35% of seed. The histopathological changes in testes and ovaries of C punctatus and O. niloticus in this experiment at 25%, 30%, 35%, 40% L. leucocephala leaf and 20%, 25%, 30% and 35% seed groups showed the decreasing trend of tertiary oocyte, spermatid and spermatozoa with the increasing of percentages of L. leucocephala leaf and seed level.