Growth and haemato-immunological response to dietary I-carrageenan in Labeo rohita (Hamilton, 1822) juveniles.

Abstract

The study was performed for a period of 60 days to evaluate the effect of dietary carrageenan on growth, haematology, biochemical and innate immunity in rohu Labeo rohita. A basal diet supplemented with iota (І)-Carrageenan at 5, 10 and 20 g kg -1 was fed to three different groups of fish for 60 days and the fishes were examined after 15, 30, 45 and 60 days of experiment. The growth (absolute growth, specific growth rate and percentage weight gain), haematological (total erythrocyte count, total leucocyte count, thrombocyte count and haemoglobin value), biochemical (total serum protein, albumin, globulin and albumin-globulin ratio) and innate immune parameters (NBT and myeloperoxidase activity) were monitored at fortnight interval to assess the effect of I-Carrageenan based diet in L. rohita. All the studied growth, haematological, biochemical and innate immune parameters increased significantly (P<0.05) in carrageenan-fed groups in comparison to control. However, the group which was fed diet containing 10 g kg −1 I-Carrageenan showed the highest value of growth, haematological, biochemical and innate immune parameters on 60 th day in comparison to other groups. The study suggests that I-carrageenan at 10 g kg -1 diet enhances the innate immunity and also the overall health status in L. rohita.