Physiological, haematological and histopathological responses in common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) fingerlings fed with differently detoxified Jatropha curcas kernel meal

Protein rich Jatropha curcas kernel meal is toxic. It was detoxified using heat treatment and solvent extraction. Two duration of detoxification process were investigated: shorter (30 min) and longer (60 min) and the detoxified meals so obtained were designated as Ja and Jb respectively. Common carp fingerlings (252 fish; 3.2 ± 0.07 g) were fed with the following diets: Control containing fishmeal (FM); S50, Ja50 and Jb50: 50% of FM protein replaced by soybean meal (SBM), detoxified Jatropha kernel meal (DJaKM and DJbKM); S75, Ja75 and Jb75: 75% of FM protein replaced by SBM, DJaKM and DJbKM. White blood cells count, mean cell volume and mean cell haemoglobin concentration, calcium and sodium ions and total bilirubin in blood did not differ significantly among the groups. Higher (P > 0.05) RBC count was observed in plant protein fed groups compared to control group. Highest alkaline phosphatase and alanine transaminase activities in blood were observed in Ja75, which were not different (P > 0.05) from those in Ja50 group, but were higher than in the other groups. No adverse histopathological changes in liver and muscle of any group were observed, but intestinal mucosa of Ja75 groups showed severe pathological lesions. The results demonstrate that Jb was completely detoxified. Since the performance of Jb50 group was similar to control group and better than the other groups, optimum inclusion level of Jb is 50% replacement of FM protein.