Effects of dietary bovine lactoferrin on non-specific immune response and disease resistance of Indian major carp, catla, Catla catla (Hamilton) Kamilya D., Joardar S.N.1, Mal B.C., Maiti Tapas K.* Department of Agricultural and Food Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur - 721 302, (West Bengal). *Corresponding author: E-mail: tkmaiti@hijli.iitkgp.ernet.in
1Department of Fishery Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Fishery Sciences, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Mohanpur - 741 252, West Bengal. Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the effects of dietary bovine lactoferrin (Lf) on the non-specific immune responses and disease resistance of Catla, Catla catla (Hamilton). After acclimatization for 14 days with a control diet, two groups of fish were fed with experimental diets containing Lf at 100 mg kg−1 feed and 200 mg kg−1 feed for a period of 14 days. The fish were then switched back to the control diet. The innate immune responses were measured at the end of experimental feeding period (day 0) and then again 14 days and 28 days later (designated as day 14 and day 28, respectively). Control and test fish were challenged by intraperitoneal injection of Aeromonas hydrophila on day 7 after the 14 days experimental feeding period. The mortalities were observed and the Relative Percent Survival (RPS) was calculated. Significant enhancement (P<0.05) in superoxide anion production was observed at day 0 and day 14 by 200 mg Lf kg−1, whereas 100 mg Lf kg−1 feed enhanced the activity only at day 14. Both the Lf concentrations significantly increased phagocytic and bactericidal activity at day 0 and day 14. Complement activity was significantly increased at day 0 and day 14 by 100 mg Lf kg−1 feed and only at day 0 by 200 mg Lf kg−1 feed, whereas lysozyme activity was unaltered by any Lf treatment (P>0.05). Both the Lf concentrations significantly reduced the mortalities following bacterial challenge. These results support the potential use of Lf as immunostimulant in farmed Indian major carp, Catla. Top |