RESUMO
Endotoxin of E. tarda grown in brain heart infusion broth at 30 degrees C for 18 hr was extracted by differential centrifugation. Fingerlings of H. fossilis (weighing 1-2 g) were allowed for hyperosmotic infiltration in the endotoxin at the rate of 0,2,4,8,16 and 20 mg/l. Mortality varied from 20-50% at 2 to 20 mg/ml. Toxin treated fishes were challenged 21 days post treatment with the same E. tarda strain containing 2.1 x 10(9) CFU/ml. There was 80% mortality in the control group whereas only 20% mortality in toxin treated group at 2 mg/l concentration after challenge with homologous E. tarda. Subsequently a second challenge of E. tarda was given to the survivors of fish one month after first challenge using same concentration where no mortality could be observed. It was concluded that the endotoxin could enhance percentage of survival against E. tarda infection in Singhi.