Serum Lysozyme Activity (serum + lysozyme_activity)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Effect of in vitro and in vivo organotin exposures on the immune functions of murray cod (Maccullochella peelii peelii)

ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 8 2007
Andrew J. Harford
Abstract Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii peelii) is an iconic native Australian freshwater fish and an ideal species for ecotoxicological testing of environmental pollutants. The species is indigenous to the Murray-Darling basin, which is the largest river system in Australia but also the ultimate sink for many environmental pollutants. The organotins tributyltin (TBT) and dibutyltin (DBT) are common pollutants of both freshwater and marine environments and are also known for their immunotoxicity in both mammals and aquatic organisms. In this study, TBT and DBT were used as exemplar immunotoxins to assess the efficiency of immune function assays (i.e., mitogen-stimulated lymphoproliferation, phagocytosis in head kidney tissue, and serum lysozyme activity) and to compare the sensitivity of Murray cod to other fish species. The organotins were lethal to Murray cod at concentrations previously reported as sublethal in rainbow trout (i.e., intraperitoneal [i.p.] lethal dose to 75% of the Murray cod [LD75] = 2.5 mg/kg DBT and i.p. lethal dose to 100% of the Murray cod [LD100] = 12.5 mg/kg TBT and DBT). In vivo TBT exposure at 0.1 and 0.5 mg/kg stimulated the phagocytic function of Murray cod (F = 6.89, df = 18, p = 0.004), while the highest concentration of 2.5 mg/kg TBT decreased lymphocyte numbers (F = 7.92, df = 18, p = 0.02) and mitogenesis (F = 3.66, df = 18, p = 0.035). Dibutyltin was the more potent immunosuppressant in Murray cod, causing significant reductions in phagocytic activity (F = 5.34, df = 16, p = 0.013) and lymphocyte numbers (F = 10.63, df = 16, p = 0.001). [source]


The effect of Pediococcus acidilactici on the gut microbiota and immune status of on-growing red tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

JOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 3 2010
R.M.W. Ferguson
Abstract Aim:, To assess Pediococcus acidilactici as a dietary supplement for on-growing red tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Methods and Results:, Tilapia were fed either a control diet or control diet supplemented with Ped. acidilactici at 107 CFU g,1 for 32 days. Ped. acidilactici colonized the intestinal tract and significantly affected the intestinal microbial communities. PCR-DGGE revealed direct antagonism of gastric Ped. acidilactici with an endogenous uncultured bacterium during a period of reverting to nonsupplemented feeding. Light microscopy revealed that gut integrity and leucocyte levels were unaffected by Ped. acidilactici; however, blood leucocyte levels and serum lysozyme activity were elevated after 14-days' feeding. No significant improvements in growth performance were observed at the end of the trial (day 32), but survival was significantly higher in the probiotic group. Conclusions:, The study demonstrates that oral supplementation of Ped. acidilactici modulates intestinal bacterial communities in on-growing red tilapia and also stimulates some aspects of the nonspecific immune response. Significance and Impact of the study:, To our knowledge this is the first study assessing the effects of probiotics on the gut microbiota of tilapia using culture-independent methods. Such methods are crucial to understand the mechanisms which underpin and mediate host benefits. [source]


The garlic component, allicin, prevents disease caused by Aeromonas hydrophila in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum)

JOURNAL OF FISH DISEASES, Issue 4 2010
E J Nya
Abstract Allicin was fed at 0 (= control), 0.5 and 1.0 mL of Allimed® liquid 100 g,1 of feed for 14 days to rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), fingerlings before infection with Aeromonas hydrophila with a resultant reduction in mortalities from 80% in the controls to 8% [relative percentage survival (RPS) = 90%] and 0% (RPS = 100%) among the treated fish. Allicin was strongly antibacterial compared to the control, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of >400 ,L mL,1 of Allimed® liquid. Use of allicin led to a lower number of white blood cells (132.0 ± 0.4 × 103) compared to 175.0 ± 0.1 × 103 in the controls, but elicited increased phagocytic activity, i.e. a phagocytic value of 39.2% compared to 13.6% in the controls, and serum lysozyme activity, which showed significant (P > 0.05) differences compared to the control at 15 and 30 min after the first reading at 0 min of incubation. [source]


Microbial levan in the diet of Labeo rohita Hamilton juveniles: effect on non-specific immunity and histopathological changes after challenge with Aeromonas hydrophila

JOURNAL OF FISH DISEASES, Issue 9 2008
S K Gupta
Abstract A 60-day feeding trial was conducted to study the immuno-protective effect of microbial levan on Labeo rohita juveniles challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila. Six purified diets were prepared with different levels of microbial levan: control (no levan), T1 (Basal + 0.25%), T2 (Basal + 0.50%), T3 (Basal + 0.75%), T4 (Basal + 1%) and T5 (Basal + 1.25%), fed to six groups of fish in triplicate. Among the treatment groups the haemoglobin content and total leucocyte count were increased with a dietary supplementation of levan at 1% or more. An increasing trend for total erythrocyte count was observed with increasing level of dietary levan. Lower levan-supplemented groups showed a higher albumin/globulin ratio. As the levan supplementation was increased, there was a gradual increase in serum lysozyme activity and respiratory burst activity [nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) assay] reduction values. The highest lysozyme activity and NBT were observed in the T5 group although this was similar to the T4 group (P > 0.05). No significant histo-architectural changes were associated with dietary levan levels. After challenge with A. hydrophila, moderately degenerated hepatocytes, oedema and leucocytic infiltration in parenchymatous tissues, and extensive haemorrhage and haemosiderosis in the kidney were observed in the control group. However, the T5 group supplemented with 1.25% levan showed infiltrating leucocytes in the liver while the kidney showed only moderate degeneration of renal tubules. The relative survival per cent of juveniles after challenge with A. hydrophila was the highest in the T5 group followed by T4. This suggests that microbial levan at 1.25% can be used as dietary immunostimulant for L. rohita juveniles. [source]


Probiotic applications for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum) I. Effects on growth performance, feed utilization, intestinal microbiota and related health criteria

AQUACULTURE NUTRITION, Issue 5 2010
D.L. MERRIFIELD
Abstract The effect of dietary probiotics (Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis and Enterococcus faecium) used singularly and synergistically on the growth performance, intestinal microbiota and health status of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum) were assessed after 10 weeks feeding on supplemented diets. No significant improvements of weight gain or specific growth rate were observed in the probiotic fed groups. However, a significant improvement of feed conversion ratio was observed in the group fed E. faecium. High levels of probiotic species were observed in the posterior gastrointestinal tract as transient digesta-associated populations and potentially resident mucosal populations. Bacillus subtilis and B. licheniformis levels accounted for 36% of the total culturable microbial population adhered to the mucosa and 62% in the digesta. E. faecium levels accounted for 45% of the mucosal population and 89% of the population in the digesta. An increase of serum lysozyme activity was observed in the fish fed diets containing the Bacillus probionts and elevated leukocyte levels were observed in fish fed diets containing Bacillus + E. faecium synergistically. The results of the current study demonstrate potential for B. subtilis, B. licheniformis and E. faecium to improve feed utilization, modulate intestinal microbiota and the health status of rainbow trout. [source]


Effects of substitution of dietary fish oil with a blend of vegetable oils on liver and peripheral blood leucocyte fatty acid composition, plasma prostaglandin E2 and immune parameters in three strains of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

AQUACULTURE NUTRITION, Issue 6 2009
I.K. PETROPOULOS
Abstract Duplicate groups of three genetic strains of Atlantic salmon smolts were cultured on diets containing either fish oil (FO) or a blend of vegetable oils (VO). Fatty acid compositions of liver and peripheral blood leucocytes were compared. The effect of different strains and diets on innate immune parameters and plasma prostaglandin E2 were also measured. Two strains were selected as being either ,fat' or ,lean' in terms of muscle adiposity. The third strain was a commercial stock (MH). Total replacement of dietary FO with VO resulted in reduced docosahexaenoic (DHA; 22:6n -3) and eicosapentaenoic acids (EPA; 20:5n -3) in liver, while oleic (18:1n -9), linoleic (18:2n -6) and ,-linolenic (18:3n -3) acids were all increased in VO-fed fish. Fatty acid compositions of blood leucocytes showed similar changes. Evaluation of innate immune function showed that in the fat strain, circulating leucocytes were significantly lower in VO fish. The lean strain also had significantly higher serum lysozyme activity than MH fish. Reduced haematocrit was seen in VO lean fish compared with FO lean fish. This study provides evidence of strain-induced differences in liver and leucocyte fatty acid compositions and innate immunity in Atlantic salmon fed either FO- or VO-based diets. [source]


Enhancement of the innate immune system and disease-resistant activity in Cyprinus carpio by oral administration of ,-glucan and whole cell yeast

AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 6 2010
Ayyaru Gopalakannan
Abstract The effects of dietary ,- (1,3) glucan and whole cell yeast (Sacharomyces uvarum) on the immune response and disease resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila were investigated in Cyprinus carpio. ,-(1,3) glucan was extracted from the yeast. Both ,-(1,3) glucan and whole yeast were incorporated into the diet at 1% level and fed to common carp C. carpio for a period of 60 days. Control and treated fish were exposed to A. hydrophila on the 30th and the 60th day of the experimental period. Dietary supplementation of glucan significantly increased the white blood cell count in fish on the 60th day (2.91±0.04 × 104), and the highest nuetrophil nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) activity was also observed in glucan-fed fish (30th day). A consistent increase in neutrophil (NBT) activity was also observed in whole cell fed fish until the end of the experiment. Similarly, ,-(1,3) glucan and whole cell yeast enhanced the serum lysozyme activity from the 15th day onwards but higher activity was reported on the 30th day in glucan and the 60th day in whole cell yeast-fed fish. Suplementation of ,-(1,3) glucan protected the fish from A. hydrophila infection. Nearly 75,80% of the fish survived pathogen exposure (relative percentage survival). However, only 54,60% survival was observed in the whole cell-fed fish. ,-(1,3) glucan and whole cell yeast protect the fish from pathogens by enhancing the cellular and humoral immune response in C. carpio. [source]


Effect of plant active compounds on immune response and disease resistance in Cirrhina mrigala infected with fungal fish pathogen, Aphanomyces invadans

AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 10 2009
Ramasamy Harikrishnan
Abstract The antibacterial activity of individual and mixed medicinal plant compounds, azadirachtin (Az), camphor (Ca) and curcumin (Cu), was tested at 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 and 700 ppm (mg L,1) against fungal fish pathogen, Aphanomyces invadans, in vitro. At the lower concentrations between 100 and 300 ppm, the mixture of the tri-herbal (Az+Ca+Cu) compound yielded a higher (P>0.05) zone of inhibition (ZI) of 7 mm than the positive control; the maximum ZI values (8,15 mm) were realized between 400 and 700 ppm (P<0.05). At the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) the tri-herbal compound (100 ppm) yielded 13 colony-forming units; hence, this dose can be effectively used at the lowest concentration of 100 mg L,1 to ward off the growth of A. invadans in vitro. In Cirrhina mrigala, intramuscular administration (100 ,L) of the selected doses of 100, 400 and 700 ppm (mg L,1) significantly enhanced (P<0.05) the serum lysozyme activity (Ly), production of reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species (RNS or NO) by peripheral blood leucocytes on the 10th, 20th and 30th day. A priori administration of the compound in the fish (100 ppm on 30th day) decreased the percentage mortality when challenged with the pathogen while in the untreated group the mortality increased (P<0.05). This study indicates that intramuscular administration of the tri-herbal compound Az+Ca+Cu at a concentration of 100 ppm could augment the immune response in C. mrigala against A. invadans. [source]