Abstract: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of complete or partial substitution of Tenebrio molitor meal for fishmeal on growth and immune indices of bullfrog. The fishmeal was substituted with Tenebrio molitor meal at the ratio of 0% （control group）, 25% （T25% group）, 50% （T50% group）, 75% （T75% group） and 100% （T100% group） in the basal diet containing 20% fishmeal. The bullfrog weighting （34.67±1.00） g was fed continuously for 56 days with the different test diets. The results showed that there were no significant differences （P>0.05） in final body weight, weight gain rate, hind leg index and survival rate after replacing fishmeal with different ratio of Tenebrio molitor meal. Comparing to the control group, the feed efficiency and protein efficiency was significantly decreased （P<0.05） in all test groups except for T50% group. The substitution of Tenebrio molitor meal had no significant effect （P>0.05） on water content, crude protein content and crude fat content of the bullfrog. The crude ash content was increased with the elevation of substitution ratio, but was significantly lower （P<0.05）than that in control group. It was indicated that supplementation of inorganic salts and oxides in the basal diet was necessary when the fishmeal was completely or partially replaced by Tenebrio molitor meal. The bullfrog fed the test diet had significantly higher （P<0.05) activities or content of total antioxidant capacity （T-AOC）, total superoxide dismutase（T-SOD）, malondialdehyde （MDA） and catalase （CAT） in liver comparing to those fed the control diet, and their liver tissue was normal in morphology. The intestinal protease activity in T100% group was significantly lower （P<0.05） than that in control group, while the lipase and amylase activities in all test groups were significantly higher （P<0.05） than those in control group. While slight separation of the lamina propria and submucosa in intestinal mucosa was observed in T100% group, no abnormality in gut mucosal structure was found in the other test groups. In conclusion, Tenebrio molitor meal can be used as a high-quality protein source for low-fishmeal or non-fishmeal diet for bullfrog. In addition, the complete substitution of Tenebrio molitor meal for fishmeal can maintain the normal growth of bullfrog and enhance the antioxidant system function of bullfrog.

Key words: bullfrog, Tenebrio molitor meal, fishmeal, substitution, growth index, effect