title: Dietary beta-1,3 glucan potentiates innate immunity and disease resistance of Asian catfish, Clarias batrachus (L.).
abstract: This study investigated the effects of short and prolonged administration of a yeast beta-glucan on non-specific immune parameters, growth rate and the disease resistance of Asian catfish, Clarias batrachus. Fish fed with a basal diet (control) and test diet (basal diet supplemented with 0.1% glucan) for 1, 2 and 3 weeks were assayed for superoxide production, serum myeloperoxidase (MPO) content, natural haemagglutinin level, complement and lysozyme activities. Fish were weighed at weekly intervals and specific growth rate (SGR, % increase in body weight per day) was determined. After each week, fish were challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila to measure the level of protection. Results showed that glucan administration at 0.1% in feed, significantly (P<0.05) enhanced MPO and lysozyme levels, superoxide production, haemagglutination titre and level of protection against A. hydrophila challenge, irrespective of length of exposure. The alternative complement activity and SGR were not affected by the dietary supplementation of yeast glucan. As glucan feeding at 0.1% for 1 week is able to enhance the non-specific immunity and disease resistance of catfish efficiently, short-term feeding might be used in farmed catfish diets to enhance disease resistance.
authors.affiliation: Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Kausalyaganga, Bhubaneswar, India.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kumari
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Sahoo
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016980:Aeromonas hydrophila / Q000187:drug effects; D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D002397:Catfishes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000187:drug effects; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D006384:Hemagglutination / Q000187:drug effects; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000187:drug effects*; D009113:Muramidase / Q000187:drug effects; D009580:Nitroblue Tetrazolium / Q000032:analysis; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D011897:Random Allocation; D016897:Respiratory Burst / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors; D047071:beta-Glucans / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D047071:beta-Glucans; D009580:Nitroblue Tetrazolium; D003165:Complement System Proteins; C033363:beta-1,3-glucan; D009195:Peroxidase; D009113:Muramidase