beta-carotene and Fish-Diseases

A preliminary study with 60 days feeding was conducted to study the immunomodulatory role of different immunostimulants like beta-carotene, omega-3 fatty acid and yeast-RNA in Catla catla fingerlings. Two hundred and sixty four fingerlings were randomly distributed into eight treatment groups with each of three replicates. Eight isonitrogenous (crude protein 34.12-35.40%) and isocaloric (458.41-461.48 kcal/100g) purified diets were prepared with graded level of beta-carotene, omega-3 fatty acid and yeast-RNA viz., Control (basal diet), T1 (Basal + 1% omega-3 fatty acid), T2 (Basal + 3% omega-3 fatty acid), T3 (Basal + beta-carotene), T4 (T1 + beta-carotene), T5 (T2 + beta-carotene), T6 (Basal + 0.4% yeast-RNA) and T7 (Basal + 0.8% yeast-RNA). The immunomodulatory effects of dietary immunostimulants were studied in terms of respiratory burst activity (NBT) of blood phagocytes, total leukocyte count, serum total protein, serum globulin, A/G ratio (A/G) and serum lysozyme activity. The respiratory burst activity of T7 group was significantly higher (p<0.05) than the other groups. Haemoglobin content, total erythrocyte count and serum albumin content did not vary among the treatment groups, whereas total leukocyte count, serum globulin content and serum lysozyme activity were found to be highest in T7 group. Relative survival percent after challenge with Aeromonas hydrophila was also highest in T7 (88.88%) group followed by T6 (75.06%) and T4 (66.66%) and the lowest in T2 group. It was observed that total leucocyte count, NBT and lysozyme activity of T2 group fed with high omega-3 fatty acid (3%) was less than (p<0.05) its lower counterparts T1 (1%) and control group. Based on the results of the present study, it concludes that supplementation of yeast-RNA at 0.8% registered higher immunological responses in C. catla juveniles. It is also observed that higher supplementation of omega-3 fatty acid (3%) in the diet causes immunosuppression in C. catla juveniles.

Topics: Adjuvants, Immunologic; Aeromonas hydrophila; Animal Feed; Animals; beta Carotene; Blood Proteins; Cyprinidae; Dietary Supplements; Eating; Erythrocyte Count; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Fish Diseases; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections; Hemoglobins; Immunity, Innate; Leukocyte Count; Muramidase; Random Allocation; Respiratory Burst; RNA, Fungal

The development of cataracts in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., was studied in 16 groups of smolts fed diets differing in prooxidant (iron, copper, manganese) and antioxidant (vitamin E, vitamin C, astaxanthin) composition and lipid level for 23 weeks in sea water, using a 2(7-3) reduced factorial design. The seven dietary variables were systematically varied at low (requirement level and 150 g lipid kg(-1)) and high levels (below known toxic levels and 320 g lipid kg(-1)). A mean endpoint cataract incidence of approximately 36% was observed. High dietary levels of vitamin C and astaxanthin reduced cataract frequency, whereas high dietary lipid level, iron and manganese were associated with increased cataract frequencies. Considering the nutritional status of selected organs of the fish, only the status of ascorbic acid correlated negatively to cataract development (P < 0.05). The lens glutathione (GSH) status was not correlated to cataract frequency, nor statistically explained by the dietary variables. However, the study shows that balancing the diet with respect to pro- and antioxidant nutrients may significantly protect Atlantic salmon against development of cataracts. An incidence of reversible osmotic cataract observed at week 14 was positively correlated to plasma glucose concentration.

Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Aqueous Humor; Ascorbic Acid; beta Carotene; Blood Glucose; Cataract; Copper; Diet; Dietary Fats; Eye; Fish Diseases; Glucose; Glutathione; Incidence; Iron; Lipids; Manganese; Nutritional Status; Reactive Oxygen Species; Salmo salar; Vitamin E; Xanthophylls; Zinc

Topics: Animals; beta Carotene; Fish Diseases; Infertility, Male; Liver; Male; Oncorhynchus mykiss; Semen; Spermatozoa; Vitamin A; Vitamin E

Two practical methods are reported for treating feral Baltic salmon with thiamine hydrochloride against M74 syndrome (abnormally high yolk-sac fry mortality of the Baltic salmon). Both bathing of the yolk-sac fry in thiamine hydrochloride (1000 mg l-1, 1 h) and a single intraperitoneal injection given to the female brood fish (100 mg kg-1 fish) during the summer 3 mo before stripping were shown to elevate the whole body total thiamine concentration in the fry. Both treatments were also shown to be effective in preventing mortality due to M74 syndrome. The effect of bathing the yolk-sac fry was shown to be dose-dependent. The results support the view that there is a causal relationship between the thiamine status of the yolk-sac fry and M74 mortality. An intraperitoneal injection of astaxanthine suspension administered to the female brood fish (11 mg kg-1 fish) in the summer 3 mo before stripping elevated the astaxanthine concentration in the eggs but did not affect mortality due to M74 syndrome. An interaction between astaxanthine and thiamine may occur in the developing embryo or yolk-sac fry, however. No association could be demonstrated between the various thiamine hydrochloride treatment practices and hepatic cytochrome P450 dependent 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity in the yolk-sac fry. An injection of thiamine hydrochloride into the peritoneal cavity of wild Baltic salmon females could be used to raise thiamine concentrations in their offspring in the rivers. The effect on smolt production in Finnish Baltic salmon rivers needs to be investigated further, however.

Topics: Adjuvants, Immunologic; Administration, Topical; Animals; beta Carotene; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Fish Diseases; Injections, Intraperitoneal; Muscle, Skeletal; Random Allocation; Salmo salar; Syndrome; Thiamine; Xanthophylls; Yolk Sac