Effects of Novel Feed Formulation on the Intestinal and Spleen Morphology in Gilthead Seabream (Sparus aurata) broodstock: A Comparative Study

Aquaculture continues to significantly contribute to the production of aquatic animals for human consumption aligning with the ongoing emphasis on sustainable fisheries. However, the feeding of farmed species can present several challenges including feed quality, nutritional balance and environmental problems. Hence the need for alternative feeds (i.e. the replacement or inclusion of feed components that are not typically found the commercial feed) aside the traditional feed for optimal productivity. In this study, haematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained histological sections of the intestine and spleen of gilthead seabream broodstock were fed three different diets (CONTR vs H1 vs L1) with ingredient substitution in L1 and H1 in inclusion levels of 5% and 10% respectively. Analysis was performed for the goblet cells count in the intestine and area of melanomacrophage centres (MMCs) in the spleen. The results obtained in this study suggest that being fed a diet high in saturated fatty acids may be associated with an increase in MMCs areas in the spleen.