Chitin digestibility and intestinal chitinase activity in Nile tilapia and rainbow trout

What is it about?

Chitin has been suggested to limit the applications of insects in fish feed. The current study investigated three black soldier fly larvae meals with different chitin contents in Nile tilapia and rainbow trout. It was found that both fish species were able to partially digest chitin as well as to increase digestive chitinase activity according to the dietary chitin content. However, a higher dietary chitin inclusion resulted in a lower digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, nitrogen-free extract, and chitin.

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Photo by John Werner on Unsplash

Photo by John Werner on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This study is important as it shows that chitin can be a nutrient source but also an anti-nutrient in fish.