Dietary protein enhances non-specific immunity, anti-oxidative capability and resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila in Labeo rohita fingerlings pre-exposed to short feed deprivation stress.
Present experiment was conducted to study the effect of dietary protein levels on growth, immunity and anti-oxidative status of Labeo rohita fingerlings during feed deprivation followed by refeeding. Fish (5.44 ± 0.10 g) were deprived of feed for 3 weeks and then re-fed to satiation for 5 weeks with one of the diets containing 25 (25P), 30 (30P), 35 (35P) or 40 (40P) percent crude protein (CP) level. In addition to these groups, a control group (C) was also maintained by feeding to satiation level twice daily with a diet containing 30% CP throughout the experimental period. At the end of 8-weeks' trial, fish were challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila and survival was recorded for the next 7 days. Complete recovery of growth in terms of weight gain percentage was achieved in the fish fed 35 and 40% protein during refeeding. The body indices (condition factor and hepatosomatic index), haematological parameters and serum protein contents at the end of the experimental trial were not significantly different (P > 0.05) among different groups suggesting that the overall health of the fish was not compromised. However, respiratory burst activity and serum lysozyme activity were indicative of a better immune function in the higher protein fed groups (35P and 40P) than the lower protein groups (25P and 30P). Following challenge with Aeromonas hydrophila, survival rate, blood monocyte%, respiratory burst activity, serum lysozyme activity, serum protein and globulin were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the 35P and 40P groups compared to the other groups. Further, fish fed lower dietary protein were not able to restore the activities of anti-oxidative enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase) in the liver. Conclusively, an improved disease resistance capability and immune status was observed in the fish fed a higher dietary protein (35-40%), even out-performing the daily-fed fish.
Division of Fish Nutrition, Biochemistry and Physiology, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Fisheries University Road, Versova, Mumbai 400 061, India. Electronic address: sonayen@gmail.com.
Sona
S
Yengkokpam
Division of Fish Nutrition, Biochemistry and Physiology, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Fisheries University Road, Versova, Mumbai 400 061, India.
Dipesh
D
Debnath
Division of Fish Nutrition, Biochemistry and Physiology, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Fisheries University Road, Versova, Mumbai 400 061, India.
N P
NP
Sahu
Division of Fish Nutrition, Biochemistry and Physiology, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Fisheries University Road, Versova, Mumbai 400 061, India.
A K
AK
Pal
Division of Fish Nutrition, Biochemistry and Physiology, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Fisheries University Road, Versova, Mumbai 400 061, India.
K K
KK
Jain
Laboratory of Aquaculture &Artemia Reference Centre, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Department of Animal Production, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
Kartik
K
Baruah
D016980:Aeromonas hydrophila / Q000502:physiology; D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D003530:Cyprinidae / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000276:immunology*; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D060467:Disease Resistance; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D005508:Food Deprivation / Q000502:physiology*; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology*
D004044:Dietary Proteins
Anti-oxidative enzymes; Disease resistance; Feed deprivation; Growth; Immune response; Labeo rohita