The influence of the dietary propolis on the fatty acid profile and the hematological parameters of seabream (Sparus aurata L. 1758)

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of increasing levels of propolis addition as a feed additive in seabream (Sparus aurata) diets on the hematological parameters and the fish fatty acids profile. Seabream with an average weight of 12.04 ± 0.01 g were fed 0 (control), by 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, 20 g/kg (abbreviated with P1.25; P2.5; P5; P10 and P20 respectively) propolis supplemented diets for 10 weeks. The experiment was conducted in three replications by adding 50 fish to 18 polyester tanks of 400 L. The trial groups were fed twice daily (09:00 and 17:00) by hand to satiation with feed containing 45% protein and 17% lipid. Although the propolis supplementation had no effect on seabream saturated fatty acids (SFA) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) contents increased significantly after the addition of 10 g/kg propolis. Therefore, the addition of the propolis to feeds significantly affected the total fatty acid composition of fish (p <0.05). As a result, the propolis supplement improved the quality of seabream fatty acid composition. At the end of the experiment, hematological parameters such as RBC (erythrocyte count in red blood cells), HGB (hemoglobin count in blood) and HCT (erythrocyte and hemoglobin count in blood) in blood samples taken from fish were found to be higher in P20 group than the other groups. There was no significant difference between the experimental groups (p > 0.05). The addition of the propolis to their feed did not have any effect on the hematological parameters of seabream. The results obtained showed that the propolis has the potential to use in seabream feeds.