New research has found that red algae positively impacts fish, boosting their immunity. The good news is that it could potentially be used in fish farming to boost immunity naturally instead of resorting to antibiotics.
A RUDN University biologist conducted the research in conjunction with colleagues from Turkey, Thailand, Iran, and Canada. The researchers found that red algae Halopithys incurve, when used as a food additive, has a substantial benefit to the development of healthy fish.
According to Morteza Yousefi, an Associate Professor at RUDN University’s Department of Veterinary Medicine:
“Macroalgae have been used in Asia since ancient times as food and medicine. And over the past 30 years, they began to be used as an alternative natural resource in other regions. Macroalgae contain biologically active components – polysaccharides, proteins, polyunsaturated fatty acids, pigments, minerals. They can be used as a food additive in fish farming due to their nutritional value, easy availability and low cost. This reduces the use of antibiotics and chemicals that have a harmful effect on the environment and living organisms due to their improper and widespread use.”
Yousefi added:
“Halopithys incurva significantly improves the innate defense system and its antioxidant capacity. These advantages demonstrate that these macroalgae can be used as a potential feed additive in aquaculture. To the best of our knowledge, their influence on the antioxidant and immune response in fish has been studied for the first time. In the future, it is necessary to study in more detail the influence of Halopithys incurva on other species of fish and crustaceans.”
You can find the original study here.
