Enhancement of immune response and resistance to Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Tilapia fish (Oreochromis mossambicus) by dietary supplementation of Portieria hornemannii

Supplementation of red algae can act as potent immune stimulator and have the effectiveness to induce immune related genes which play an important role in host defense mechanism. The objective of the present study is to scrutinize the potentiality of Portieria hornemannii (pH) extract to improve the disease resistance and immune response in Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus). Fishes were fed with PH diet for 45 days prior to the experimental challenge with Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Expression of immune related genes and immune parameters were analyzed at 1, 7 and 14 day of post challenge period. Fishes fed with PH diet showed higher percentage of survival when compared to the control group 14 day post challenge. Significant increase in antiprotease, serum lysozyme and NBT activity were seen in tilapia fed with PH extract diet (15 mg/g). These results simplified that PH extract can elevate the survival rate restraining the immune response in O.mossambicus.

Automated summary

The study examines the potential of Portieria hornemannii extract in enhancing disease resistance and immune response in Tilapia. The results indicate that feeding Tilapia with PH extract can improve their survival rate after infection and have significant effects on immune related genes and immune parameters.