title: Uncaria tomentosa increases growth and immune activity in Oreochromis niloticus challenged with Streptococcus agalactiae.
abstract: Cat's claw (Uncaria tomentosa) is an Amazon herb using in native cultures in Peru. In mammals, it has been described several effects of this herb. However, this is the first report of its use on the diet of fish. The aim of this study was to determinate the effect of this plant on the growth and immune activity in Oreochromis niloticus. Nile tilapia (81.3 ± 4.5 g) were distributed into 5 groups and supplemented with 0 (non-supplement fish), 75, 150, 300, and 450 mg of U. tomentosa.kg(-1) of diet for a period of 28 days. Fish were inoculated in the swim bladder with inactivated Streptococcus agalactiae and samples were taken at 6, 24, and 48 h post inoculation (HPI). Dose dependent increases were noted in some of the evaluated times of thrombocytes and white blood cells counts (WBC) in blood and exudate, burst respiratory activity, lysozyme activity, melanomacrophage centers count (MMCs), villi length, IgM by immunohistochemistry in splenic tissue, and unexpectedly on growth parameters. However, dietary supplementation of this herb did not affect red blood cells count (RBC), hemoglobin, and there were no observed histological lesions in gills, intestine, spleen, and liver. The current results demonstrate for the first time that U. tomentosa can stimulate fish immunity and improve growth performance in Nile tilapia.
authors.affiliation: Aquaculture Center of UNESP, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jefferson
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yunis-Aguinaga
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathology, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, Unesp, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gustavo S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Claudiano
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathology, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, Unesp, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Marcusso
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathology, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, Unesp, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Wilson Gómez
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Manrique
authors.affiliation: Aquaculture Center of UNESP, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil; Department of Veterinary Pathology, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, Unesp, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Julieta R Engrácia
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: de Moraes
authors.affiliation: Aquaculture Center of UNESP, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil; Department of Veterinary Pathology, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, Unesp, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: fruasmoraes@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Flávio R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: de Moraes
authors.affiliation: Aquaculture Center of UNESP, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: João B K
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Fernandes
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D020948:Cat's Claw / Q000737:chemistry*; D023681:Cichlids / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000187:drug effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Amazon herb; Cat's claw; Hematology; Phytotherapy