Effect of Nigella sativa oil and ciprofloxacin against bacterial infection on gene expression in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) blood

The effect of both Nigella sativa oil (NSO) and ciprofloxacin (Cip) was investigated by evaluating their therapeutic and immunity properties on serum biochemical parameters, and the gene expression levels of hepcidin, interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) and cytochrome P450 1A (CYP 1A) in O. niloticus blood against the bacterial infection and the search for antibiotic substitutes. Twelve experimental groups of Nile tilapia were included: control groups (T1-4), Aeromonas hydrophila (Ah) groups (T5-8) and Pseudomonas fluorescens (Ps) groups (T9-12). The antibiogram test showed that the Ah and Ps groups had a high sensitivity to ciprofloxacin, gatifloxacin, lomefloxacin, norfloxacin, gentamicin, and kanamycin. The mortality rate was 43.75% and 37.5% in untreated Ah (T5) and Ps (T9) groups, respectively, but was reduced by the use of NSO and Cip. The fish infected by Ps (T9-T12) showed a significant increase in serum total protein, albumin, and globulin levels, compared to the uninfected control group (T1). A significant increase in the relative hepcidin expression was observed in the Ah infected groups than in the Ps infected groups. Hepcidin transcripts were increased in each of Cip and NSO in the infected groups. The relative expression of the IL-1 beta gene was significantly increased in the Cip-treated groups, but it decreased in the NSOtreated groups after the bacterial infection, compared to the untreated infected groups. Both Cip and NSO led to a decrease in the level of CYP1A gene expression in the infected fish groups. The study showed that NSO has a therapeutic effect against pathogens just as ciprofloxacin.

Automated summary

The study found that Nigella sativa oil and ciprofloxacin both have therapeutic effects against pathogens in Nile tilapia, with impacts on certain biochemical parameters and gene expression levels.