Uses of Elaeis guineensis oil for Stress Management during the Transportation of Catfish Fingerlings: A Dose-Dependent Outcome

Cameroonian farmers used Elaeis guineensis oil (EGO) named usually palm oil to reduce stress and mortality during the transportation of catfish fingerlings. The present study is aimed to evaluate the uses of EGO for stress management during the transportation of catfish fingerlings. Antioxidant activities of EGO were assessed in vitro. 1500 fingerlings were transported from Douala (Littoral Region, Cameroon) to Yaoundé (Centre Region Cameroon). The transportation was for 7 h 55 min in black tins of 10 L which contain 8 L of water and 100 fingerlings each. The following treatment was administrated: commercial anti-stress, 2, 4, and 6 drops of EGO. Control received no treatment and all groups were triplicated. After 10 fingerlings were sacrificed by decapitation. Total protein, total bilirubin (TB), triglycerides level, and lactate deshydrogenase (LDH) activity were assessed in the liver as well as oxidant stress parameters. Brain and gills were fixed for histopathological analysis. Results showed that transportation of catfish fingerlings induced a significant increase of TB level and LDH activity in the liver. Indeed, it induced cerebellar and gills necrosis. Moreover, EGO exhibits antioxidant activities in vitro against DPPH, ABTS radicals, and possesses a ferric reducing antioxidant power of 6.31 mEAG/g. This observation was confirmed in vivo by the increase in a dose-dependent manner of GSH and nitrites levels in the liver compared to control. However, the administration of 6 drops of EGO increased significantly (p < 0.05) the activity of LDH in the liver compared to control. Thus, high dose induced anaerobic respiration which was confirmed by alveolar necrosis in gills and neurodegeneration although low dose of EGO (2-4 drops) prevented those alterations compared to control. Hence, low doses of Elaeis guineensis oil can prevent liver, cerebellar and gills impairment during artisanal transportation to reduce the effects of stress.