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Aquaculture Disease Management and Microbiota · Journal article
Frontiers in Marine Science · August 3, 2026
Encouraging direction, but not yet definitive.
White grape marc extracts were safe and tolerated in juvenile seabass diets, with one formulation (PLN450) producing modest gains in antioxidant enzyme activity and protein efficiency. However, no significant survival benefit was observed following Vibrio harveyi challenge, and overall growth and immune gene expression showed minimal change, limiting the immediate practical value as a disease-prevention tool.
Controlled feeding trial with triplicate groups and disease challenge. European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) juveniles. Intervention: White grape marc extracts obtained with three solvents (ELN, PLN, ACA) at 450 ppm total polyphenolic content per kg feed. Compared with: Control diet without extract supplementation. Not stated.
PLN450-fed fish showed higher catalase activity and reduced lipid peroxidation compared to other groups Fish fed supplemented diets showed higher absolute survival than control following Vibrio harveyi challenge, but difference was not statistically significant Dietary supplementation did not affect survival, growth performance, or feed utilization across groups
No statistically significant improvement in mortality following pathogen challenge reported for any treatment
These results suggest that white grape marc extracts are a safe feed additive for seabass aquaculture but do not provide compelling evidence of disease prevention benefit. Further work with larger sample sizes and pre-defined power calculations is needed before recommending implementation as a replacement for traditional disease management.
A controlled feeding trial with a relevant aquaculture species and hard endpoint (disease challenge), but with no statistically significant survival benefit and only modest biochemical improvements in one treatment group.
As stated by the source record.
Quoted from the source exactly as published.
These results suggest that white grape marc extracts are a safe feed additive for seabass aquaculture but do not provide compelling evidence of disease prevention benefit. Further work with larger sample sizes and pre-defined power calculations is needed before recommending implementation as a replacement for traditional disease management.
Graded across the dimensions that decide whether you should act, each from what the source actually supports. There is no single score, and where a dimension was not assessed it says so.
Aquaculture intensification has increased the susceptibility of farmed fish to infectious diseases, which are traditionally managed with antibiotics. Growing environmental concerns and the emergence of antimicrobial resistance, however, have driven the search for more sustainable approaches to disease management. White grape marc, a polyphenol-rich by-product of the wine-making industry with known antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, represents a promising functional extract for aquafeeds. This study evaluated the effects of three white grape marc extracts obtained within the NeoGiANT project, using alcohol (ELN), glycol (PLN), and ketone (ACA) solvents, on growth performance, oxidative status, immune response, disease resistance, and gut microbiota of European seabass ( Dicentrarchus labrax ) juveniles. Fish were fed with four isoproteic and isolipidic diets: a control diet (CTRL) and three diets supplemented with white grape marc extracts at 450 ppm of total polyphenolic content per kg of feed. Fish were distributed into triplicate groups and fed for 48 days. Dietary supplementation did not affect survival, growth performance, or feed utilization. However, fish fed the PLN450 diet showed improved protein efficiency and antioxidant status, with higher catalase activity and reduced lipid peroxidation. Immune and stress-related gene expression also tended to be lower in fish fed the PLN450 diet than in those fed the other diets, while gut microbiota composition remained largely unchanged. Following a Vibrio harveyi challenge, mortality did not differ significantly among groups, although fish receiving the supplemented diets showed higher absolute survival than those receiving the CTRL diet. Overall, NeoGiANT grape marc extracts were safe for inclusion in the diets of European seabass juveniles and provided moderate antioxidant benefits, highlighting the potential of winery by-products as functional ingredients to support more sustainable aquaculture.
Taken from the source record, never inferred. Follow any of these and new work involving them reaches your briefing.