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Animals
Special Issues
Feed Additives and Functional Ingredients for Aquaculture Health and Performance
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Feed Additives and Functional Ingredients for Aquaculture Health and Performance

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Aquatic Animals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 October 2026 | Viewed by 1832

Special Issue Editors

Dr. José María Monserrat

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Functional Biochemistry, Institute of Biological Sciences (ICB), Federal University of Rio Grande—FURG, Rio Grande 96203-000, RS, Brazil
Interests: marine biotechnology; dietary supplements; shrimp nutrition; shrimp physiology; antioxidants; chemoprotectans; nanotechnology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Marcelo Borges Tesser

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Nutrition of Aquatic Organisms (LANOA), Institute of Oceanography (IO), Federal University of Rio Grande (FURG), Rio Grande 96203-000, RS, Brazil
Interests: aquaculture; marine biotechnology; dietary supplements; fish nutrition; fish biology; shrimp nutrition; body composition; marine aquaculture; aquaculture fisheries; aquatic science
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Aquaculture is rapidly expanding worldwide, driving the growing demand for innovative feed solutions that enhance growth performance, health, immunity, and stress resilience in aquatic species. As the industry evolves, feed additives and functional ingredients have become essential tools for promoting efficiency, sustainability, and environmental responsibility in modern aquaculture.

For this Special Issue, ‘Feed Additives and Functional Ingredients for Aquaculture Health and Performance’, we invite researchers and practitioners to share their latest findings and insights on feed additives and functional ingredients in aquaculture. We welcome original research articles, reviews, and short communications that will advance this dynamic field.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following: the development, evaluation, and application of innovative feed additives; the nutritional, physiological, microbiological, and molecular mechanisms of functional ingredients; biotechnological approaches, omics technologies, and circular economy strategies in feed innovation; and the roles of probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, phytogenics, enzymes, antioxidants, bioactive peptides, and microbial ingredients.

We particularly encourage submissions that provide novel perspectives or practical applications that contribute to more sustainable and resilient aquaculture systems, including studies on the modulatory effects of bioactive compounds in the energetic status of aquatic organisms. Other approaches, including hormetic responses induced by feed additives, are also welcome.

Dr. José María Monserrat
Dr. Marcelo Borges Tesser
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • feed additives
  • functional ingredients
  • probiotics and prebiotics
  • bioactive peptides
  • aquatic health and immunity
  • sustainable aquaculture

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 608 KB  
Article
Impact of Dietary Lactobacillus plantarum on Muscle Composition, Hemolymph Biochemistry, Lipid Metabolism, and the mTOR Signaling Pathway in Red Claw Crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus)
by Qin Zhang, Qinghui Zeng, Jiahao Zhao, Luoqing Li, Yijun Hu, Tong Tong, Yongqiang Liu, Dapeng Wang, Rui Wang and Huizan Yang
Animals 2026, 16(6), 971; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16060971 - 20 Mar 2026
Viewed by 364
Abstract
The objective of this research was to examine how varying dietary inclusion levels of Lactobacillus plantarum influence the muscle composition, hemolymph biochemical indices, lipid metabolism, and the mTOR signaling pathway in red claw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus). Four diets with 0 (CK), [...] Read more.
The objective of this research was to examine how varying dietary inclusion levels of Lactobacillus plantarum influence the muscle composition, hemolymph biochemical indices, lipid metabolism, and the mTOR signaling pathway in red claw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus). Four diets with 0 (CK), 0.10 (LG), 1.00 (MG), and 10.00 (HG) g/kg L. plantarum were formulated, with three replicates of 40 crayfish (average weight: 0.13 ± 0.01 g, average length: 0.58 ± 0.01 cm) in a 56-day trial. Results showed that no significant differences in muscle crude protein, crude lipid, ash, or moisture were observed between experimental and CK groups (p > 0.05), while the contents of multiple essential amino acids (e.g., arginine up to 6.05%, histidine up to 7.52%) and non-essential amino acids (e.g., aspartic acid up to 3.70%, glutamic acid up to 1.76%) were significantly elevated, and the content of muscle C18:0 (a saturated fatty acid) was notably reduced (p < 0.05), while total saturated fatty acids showed no significant variation among all groups (p > 0.05). Hemolymph alkaline phosphatase, transaminases, lactate dehydrogenase, and lysozyme activities, as well as glucose, total protein, and albumin levels, were significantly higher in experimental groups (p < 0.05). Lipid metabolism was upregulated, and the mTOR pathway was inhibited in experimental crayfish (p < 0.05). This study demonstrates that dietary L. plantarum enhances lipid metabolism in red claw crayfish, with 1.0 g/kg L. plantarum identified as the optimal supplementation level. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feed Additives and Functional Ingredients for Aquaculture Health and Performance)
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18 pages, 3524 KB  
Article
Comparative Effects of Silkworm Excrement Concentrate Extract Versus Sodium Copper Chlorophyllin on Growth, Metabolic Health and Immune Response in Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio)
by Jiafa Yang, Shanren Lan, Xu Jia, Yaowei He, Zhijun Li, Aiguo Zhou and Huijuan Tang
Animals 2026, 16(3), 455; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16030455 - 1 Feb 2026
Viewed by 411
Abstract
This study investigated the efficacy of two value-added products derived from silkworm excrement—a concentrated extract (SCE, 20:1) and sodium copper chlorophyllin (SCC)—as functional feed additives for common carp. Diets supplemented with 0.5% SCE, 1.0% SCE, or 0.1% SCC were compared to a basal [...] Read more.
This study investigated the efficacy of two value-added products derived from silkworm excrement—a concentrated extract (SCE, 20:1) and sodium copper chlorophyllin (SCC)—as functional feed additives for common carp. Diets supplemented with 0.5% SCE, 1.0% SCE, or 0.1% SCC were compared to a basal control. The results revealed a distinct dose-dependent effect for SCE: 0.5% SCE was safe, while 1.0% SCE impaired growth, feed efficiency, and digestive enzyme activity. Both SCE and SCC significantly enhanced lipid metabolism, reducing hepatic lipid deposition and improving serum lipid profiles, albeit through distinct molecular pathways—SCC primarily stimulated catabolism, whereas SCE comprehensively regulated both synthesis and breakdown. Furthermore, SCE demonstrated superior, multi-targeted immunomodulatory capacity by favorably regulating inflammatory cytokine expression, an effect not observed with SCC. Although both additives boosted systemic antioxidant capacity, their specific patterns of enzyme activity and gene expression differed. In conclusion, SCE offers broad-spectrum, synergistic benefits for health modulation, while SCC provides specific, stable bioactivity, highlighting the importance of selecting the appropriate additive form based on desired functional outcomes in aquaculture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feed Additives and Functional Ingredients for Aquaculture Health and Performance)
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23 pages, 1041 KB  
Article
Dietary Green-Algae Chaetomorpha linum Extract Supplementation on Growth, Digestive Enzymes, Antioxidant Defenses, Immunity, Immune-Related Gene Expression, and Resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila in Adult Freshwater Snail, Bellamya bengalensis
by Hairui Yu, Govindharajan Sattanathan, Mansour Torfi Mozanzadeh, Pitchai Ruba Glory, Swaminathan Padmapriya, Thillainathan Natarajan, Ramasamy Rajesh and Sournamanikam Venkatalakshmi
Animals 2026, 16(2), 289; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16020289 - 16 Jan 2026
Viewed by 704
Abstract
Macroalgae plays a significant role in the formulation of innovative and environmentally sustainable approaches to address food challenges. Specifically, green macroalgae serve as dietary supplements aimed at improving the health, growth, and feeding efficiency of various species of marine and freshwater fishes, as [...] Read more.
Macroalgae plays a significant role in the formulation of innovative and environmentally sustainable approaches to address food challenges. Specifically, green macroalgae serve as dietary supplements aimed at improving the health, growth, and feeding efficiency of various species of marine and freshwater fishes, as well as mollusks. The effects of Chaetomorpha linum extract (CLE) on growth performance, physiological responses, and disease resistance are studied in Bellamya bengalensis against Aeromonas hydrophila. In this experiment, adult B. bengalensis (4412 ± 165.25 mg) were randomly divided into 15 rectangular glass aquariums (35 snail/aquaria; 45 L capacity) and their basal diet was supplemented with different levels of CLE, including 0 (CLE0), 1 (CLE1), 2 (CLE2), 3 (CLE3), and 4 (CLE4) g/kg for 60 days. The growth performance in the CLE3 dietary group was significantly higher that of the CLE0 group, exhibiting both linear and quadratic trends in relation to dietary CLE levels (p < 0.05). The activities of pepsin, amylase, and lipase were found to be highest in CLE3 and lowest in CLE0. Both linear and quadratic responses to dietary CLE levels in digestive enzymes were observed (p < 0.05). The activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase in the hepatopancreas were found to be elevated in snails due to the synergistic effect of the supplemented CLE diet. Among different levels of diet given, CLE2-supplemented snails showed an increase in their enzyme activity (p < 0.05). Interestingly, all the CLE-treated snails expressed elevated levels of mucus lysozyme and mucus protein when compared to control (p < 0.05). Additionally, hepatopancreatic acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase activity were elevated in snails consuming CLE3 (p < 0.05). The transcription levels of immune-related genes, including mucin-5ac and cytochrome, were significantly elevated in snails that were fed a diet supplemented with 2–4 g of CLE/kg. Furthermore, the transcription level of the acid phosphatase-like 7 protein gene also increased in snails receiving CLE-supplemented diets. After a 14-day period of infection, snails that consumed a diet supplemented with 3–4 g/kg of CLE exhibited a notable increase in survival rates against virulent A. hydrophila. Based on the above findings, it is suggested that a diet supplemented with 3 g/kg of CLE may enhance growth, antioxidant and immune defense, and disease resistance in the freshwater snail B. bengalensis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feed Additives and Functional Ingredients for Aquaculture Health and Performance)
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