EFFICIENT USE OF CURCUMIN ON THE IMMUNE RESPONSE OF NILE TILAPIA AGAINST MOTILE AEROMONAS SEPTICEMIA

EFFICIENT USE OF CURCUMIN ON THE IMMUNE RESPONSE OF NILE TILAPIA AGAINST MOTILE AEROMONAS SEPTICEMIA

Hala Ayoub and Mohamed El Tantawy

Fish Health and Management Department, Central Laboratory For Aquaculture Research, Agricultural Research Center, Egypt.

Abstract

Turmeric (Curcuma longa Linn.) is a native plant of southern Asia and is cultivated extensively throughout the tropical parts of the world. The aim of this study was to evaluate the dietary dosages of turmeric that enhance immune response and disease resistance against the opportunistic pathogen Aeromonas hydrophila in Oreochromis niloticus. Three different dosages of turmeric at 1, 3 and 5% kg−¹ feed were given to the fish for 60 days at 4% body weight. At every 14-day interval, blood was collected and serum was separated. At the end of experiment fish was challenged by I/P with 0.2 ml A. hydrophila /fish. The mortality (%) was recorded for 10 days post challenge. Some of immune parameters including lysozyme activity and Nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) were significantly (P<0.05) higher on 42 days of feeding of 3.0 g of turmeric per kg of feed. Challenge study indicated 0, 75, 90, and 80% survivability in the group of fish fed with 0, 1, 3 and 5% of turmeric per kg of feed respectively. Feeding of turmeric might have maintained long-term protection in fish by elevating the nonspecific immune system such as Nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) and lysozyme activity. The result showed that turmeric at a dose of 3% kg−¹ feed for 60 days provided the greatest protection against challenge by A. hydrophila.

Key words: Curcumin – Immnostimulant – Aeromonas hydrophila