Enhancing Growth and Health in Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Juvenile: The Role of Dietary Phytase in Digestive Enzymes, Hematobiochemical Index, and Bone Mineral Composition

Juvenile tilapia generally require higher protein for growth and health than fish in the advanced stage (enlargement). Phytase is important for juvenile tilapia fish since it can hydrolyze phytate, increase digestive enzyme activity and mineral digestibility, and improve fish growth performance. The current study aimed to investigate the effect of phytase on growth performance, digestive enzyme activity, hematological, biochemical indices, bone mineral composition, and feed efficiency of juvenile-stage tilapia. A total of 500 juvenile tilapia (6.42 ± 0.35g/ head) were used and were then fed with experimental feed containing phytase enzyme supplementation at 0, 250, 500, 750, 1000, and 1250 FTU/kg feed (treatments A-F). The digestive enzyme, hematobiochemical index, bone mineral composition, protein digestibility, weight gain, apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCp), relative growth rate (RGR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and survival rate (SR) of juvenile-stage tilapia were evaluated. The supplementation of phytase significantly (P<0.05) enhanced digestive enzyme activities, including chymotrypsin and trypsin, compared to those without phytase. Futhermore, it improved hematological parameters (red blood cells, hemoglobin, packed cell volume, white blood cells, and platelets) and serum biochemical indices (total protein, albumin, and globulin). Bone mineral composition, including phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and zinc (Zn), was also improved. Among the tested doses, 1000 FTU/kg feed provided the highest improvements in growth performance, feed efficiency, and bone mineral composition, making it the optimal dose for juvenile tilapia. Juvenile tilapia [A1] [DR2] generally require higher protein for growth and health than fish in the advanced stage (enlargement). Phytase is important for juvenile tilapia fish since it can hydrolyze phytate, increase digestive enzyme activity and mineral digestibility, and improve fish growth performance. The current study aimed to investigate the effect of phytase on growth performance, digestive enzyme activity, hematological, biochemical indices, bone mineral composition, and feed efficiency of juvenile-stage tilapia. A total of 500 juvenile tilapia (6.42 ± 0.35g/ head) were used and were then fed with experimental feed containing phytase enzyme supplementation at 0, 250, 500, 750, 1000, and 1250 FTU/kg feed (treatments A-F). The digestive enzyme, hematobiochemical index, bone mineral composition, protein digestibility, weight gain, apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCp), relative growth rate (RGR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and survival rate (SR) of juvenile-stage tilapia were evaluated. The supplementation of phytase significantly (P<0.05) enhanced digestive enzyme activities, including chymotrypsin and trypsin, compared to those without phytase. [A3] [DR4] Futhermore, it improved hematological parameters (red blood cells, hemoglobin, packed cell volume, white blood cells, and platelets) and serum biochemical indices (total protein, albumin, and globulin). Bone mineral composition, including phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and zinc (Zn), was also improved.[A5] [DR6] Among the tested doses, 1000 FTU/kg feed provided the highest improvements in growth performance, feed efficiency, and bone mineral composition, making it the optimal dose for juvenile tilapia.[A7] [DR8] [A1]"Juvenile tilapia fish" → "Juvenile tilapia": The word "fish" is unnecessary. [DR2]I have deleted [A3]You mention that phytase supplementation had significant effects (P<0.05), but specifying which comparisons are statistically significant would be helpful. Example: "Phytase significantly (P<0.05) increased digestive enzyme activities..." → You could clarify which treatment groups showed significant differences. [DR4]I have add the comparation with those group withour phytase addition [A5]Improve Flow of Results · The abstract presents too many results in a single sentence, making it harder to digest. · Suggestion: Break it into smaller sentences and group related findings together. · Example of revision: "Phytase supplementation significantly (P<0.05) enhanced digestive enzyme activities, including chymotrypsin and trypsin. Additionally, it improved hematological parameters (red blood cell count, hemoglobin, packed cell volume, white blood cell count, and platelets) and serum biochemical indices (total protein, albumin, and globulin). Bone mineral composition, including phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and zinc (Zn), was also improved. Growth performance and feed efficiency were optimized at a phytase dose of 1000 FTU/kg feed." [DR6]I have improved the flow of results [A7]Your conclusion states that 1000 FTU/kg feed was the optimal dose, but it would be helpful to briefly mention why. Example: "Among the tested doses, 1000 FTU/kg feed provided the highest improvements in growth performance, feed efficiency, and bone mineral composition, making it the optimal dose for juvenile tilapia." [DR8]I have revised the conclusion