EVALUATION OF IMMUNOSTIMULATION PROPERTIES OF Achyranthes aspera SUPPLEMENTED DIETS ON Labeo rohita IN POND CULTURE SYSTEM
Diseases and various parasitic infections are responsible for major losses to aquaculture industry. Immunostimulation is one of the useful tools to prevent infectious diseases in the fishes. The use of herbal compounds as immunostimulants has been increasing rapidly in aquaculture to avoid the indiscriminate use of hazardous antibiotics.
Indian major carp rohu, Labeo rohita (153.81 ±2.88 g) were cultured in 3m2 hapa (2.0 m × 1.5 m) under three different feeding regimes. Three replicates were used for each treatment. All hapas were kept in a pond of CIFE, Rohtak Centre, Haryana, India. Two test diets were formulated using seeds (0.5%) and leaves (0.5%) of Achyranthes aspera. The diet without plant ingredients served as control. Fish were immunized with c-RBC after 30 days of culture. Blood and tissue samples were collected after 7 days of immunization.
Final average weight was higher in rohu fed with plant supplemented diets compared to the control one. Myeloperoxidase and nitric oxide synthase levels were significantly (P<0.05) higher in seeds and leaves supplemented diets fed rohu compared to the control group. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance and carbonyl protein levels were minimum in the experimental groups compared to the control one. Highest level of lysozyme was recorded in the seed supplemented diet fed rohu. The dietary supplementation of Achyranthes aspera increases the immunity in rohu under pond culture system.