Effect of dietary beta-glucan on immune response and disease resistance against Aeromonas hydrophila in giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man. 1879)

Macrobrachium rosenbergii juveniles (0.34 +/- A 0.01 g) were fed with beta-glucan-incorporated diets at levels 0.0, 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 g kg(-1) diet. After 60 days of feeding trial, immune response and resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila were studied. Immune parameters, namely prophenol oxidase, super anion production, total hemolymph protein and total hemocyte count, were found significantly different (p < 0.05) in 1.0 g kg(-1) beta-glucan-incorporated diet. The relative percentage survival was observed significantly higher (p < 0.05) in 1.0 g kg(-1) beta-glucan inclusion level, after challenged against A. hydrophila. These results indicated that dietary level of beta-glucan at 1.0 g kg(-1) could enhance immune responses and resistance to A. hydrophila in M. rosenbergii.