Itoua Onianguet Assoba Cassiel^{1, 2}, Elenga Michel^{1, 3,}, Wossolo Stephane⁴, Mabossy-Mobouna Germain^{1, 2}, Mananga Vital^{1, 2}

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of incorporating Protomacronema sp flour into the standard diet on nutritional and physiological parameters, based on an animal experiment in young growing rats. The animals were weighed in batches according to diet at the start of the experiment, then at two-day intervals for 16 days. The parameters determined were weight evolution, total dry matter ingested (TDMI), weight gain, feed efficiency ratio (FE), feed conversion ratio (FCR), organ weight after dissection and biochemical parameters. The results show that rats fed insect meal show greater growth than rats fed the control diet. The 15% percentage favored growth more, with a weight gain (78.33 ±11.84 g) than that of rats fed the 5, 10 and 20% flour. The highest level of consumption was observed in rats fed 15% Protomacronema sp flour (41.43 ± 3.11). The incorporation of Protomacronema sp flour led to an improvement in the CEA values of the treated diets (0.04 ± 0.05 to 0.06 ± 0.05) compared to that of the control diet (0.03 ± 0.03). Kidney, lung and heart weights were virtually identical between treated and control diets. In contrast, statistical analysis of the data showed a significant difference (p< 0.05) between spleen and lung weights. Total protein levels increased in treated animals by 5% (5.07±1.77), 10% (5.26±1.90), 20% (5.77±2.22) and 15% (7.01±3.22) compared with the control (4.83±1.63). HDL levels increased in treated rats, with values of 43.08±23.73; 43.78±24.12; 46.67±25.82 and 54.44±30.45 respectively for the 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% batches, compared with the control (32.13±17.44). Plasma calcium levels increased non-significantly in rats treated with insect meal at 5% (5.17 ±1.84), 10% (7.37 ± 3.27), 15% (8.13 ± 3.76) and 20% (8.46 ± 3.74) versus control (4.43 ±1.42). In addition, plasma iron levels rose in dishes treated at 5% (0.75±0.72), 15% (1.71± 0.52) and 20% (2.63 ± 0.52). These results seem appropriate in the fight against malnutrition in the context of available food resources.

Protomacronema sp, diet, formulation, nutritional and physiological parameters, Rat