Abstract
As alternatives to antibiotics and growth promoters, herbs and medicinal plants can contribute to new strategies for aquatic health management, and have great potential for more sustainable aquaculture. Four plants, Pelargonium roseum, Schinus terenbinthifolius, Murraya koenigii and Aphloia theiformis, widely distributed in tropical countries were studied to assess their efficacy in the prevention and reduction of mortality caused by experimental infection with Aeromonas hydrophila on Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. Powdered plants were incorporated into fish feed, and fish were fed with an enriched diet for 40 days before a challenge with the pathogen. No negative impact on the condition factor, weight gain or specific growth rate was observed in fish fed with the plant supplements, and the best growth was observed in fish fed with P. roseum. Mortality was significantly reduced in fish treated with A. theiformis compared to other fish from plant species and control, with a relative survival rate (RPS) of up to 30%.