Dietary supplementation of salidroside increases immune response and disease resistance of crucian carp (Carassius auratus) against Aeromonas hydrophila.

Some medicinal plants have been known as immunostimulants, and the medicinal plants extract has been used to control the outbreak of the disease in aquaculture for many years. In this study, a total of 270 crucian carp (30 ± 5 g) were randomly distributed in 9 aquaria (55 cm l × 40 cm w × 50 cm h) and divided into three feeding groups including 0 (Control), 50 mg kg−1 (Diet A) and 100 mg kg−1 (Diet B) of salidroside. The expression of immune-related genes (IL-1β, TNFα, MYD88, CXCL-8, TGF-β, and IL-11) in the kidney had a significant increase when the crucian carp fed with Diet B for 4 weeks (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the expression of IL-1β, TNFα, and CXCL-8 in the spleen was significantly up-regulated when the fish fed with Diet B (P < 0.05). Higher serum alkaline phosphatase (AKP) activity, catalase (CAT) activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and complement C3 content were found in the fish which fed with salidroside-supplemented diet. Our results also proved that fish fed with salidroside-supplemented diet for four weeks, especially at a concentration of 100 mg kg−1 diet, improved the protection of crucian carp against A. hydrophila. The amount of A. hydrophila in the kidney and spleen was significantly decreased in salidroside-supplemented diet groups (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the present results demonstrate that the addition of salidroside for four weeks can improve the immune response of crucian carp and increase the protection against the pathogen, especially at the concentration of 100 mg kg−1 diet. The protective effect of the salidroside to the crucian carp could be used as alternatives to antibiotics for controlling fish diseases in aquaculture. • Salidroside evaluated as an immunostimulant in crucian carp. • Salidroside has strong immunostimulant effects up-regulated immune related gene expression. • Salidroside has strong immunostimulant effects stimulated serum enzyme activity. • The use of salidroside in crucian carp diet was increased fish resistance against A. hydrophila infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]