Effects of Dietary Limonene Supplementation on Growth Performance and Immunological Parameters of Common Carp, Cyprinus carpio, Challenged by Aeromonas hydrophila.

This study examined the impact of dietary limonene treatment on the growth performance, immune response, and disease resistance of common carp, Cyprinus carpio. The fish were fed with either a control diet (CTL; no limonene supplementation) or four experimental diets containing 50 (50 L), 100 (100 L), 200 (200 L), and 400 (400 L) mg/kg limonene over a 70-day period, followed by Aeromonas hydrophila challenge. The 200 L treatment resulted in a significant decrease in FCR compared to the CTL treatment. The highest post-challenge mortality was associated with the CTL treatment (62.7%), while the 200 L treatment had the lowest mortality (30.7%). Before the challenge, dietary limonene significantly increased humoral and skin mucosal immune parameters compared to the CTL treatment. The highest leukocyte, lymphocyte counts, skin mucosal protease activity, and intestinal lactic acid bacteria were observed in the 200 L treatment before the challenge. The highest plasma lysozyme activity was observed in the 400 L treatment, whereas the highest skin mucosal lysozyme and peroxidase activities were observed in the 100 L and 200 L treatments before the challenge. There were no significant differences in the blood neutrophil, monocyte, and eosinophil counts, humoral alternative complement activity, skin mucosal alkaline phosphatase activity, and the intestinal total viable bacteria among the treatments before the challenge. After the challenge, the 200 L treatment exhibited the highest leukocyte, neutrophil, and monocyte count, skin mucosal immune parameters, and intestinal lactic acid bacteria, whereas the highest blood eosinophil count was observed in the 100 L, 200 L, and 400 L treatments. At this time, the lowest blood lymphocyte counts were observed in the 100 L and 200 L, but the lowest intestinal total viable bacteria were observed in the 100 L, 200 L, and 400 L treatments. Based on these findings, dietary limonene at 200 mg/kg is ideal for common carp to promote feed efficiency, innate immunity boosting, and resistance against A. hydrophila.

Effects of dietary thyme essential oil and prebiotic administration on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) welfare and performance.

The aim of this study was to examine the combined effects of thyme essential oil (TEO) and prebiotic (Immunogen ®) on growth performance, hematological parameters, innate immunity, and oxidative status of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. For this purpose, the fish (11.92 ± 0.06 g) were fed (3% of biomass) experimental diets that contained 0 (Control; without Immunogen and/or TEO); 1% TEO + 0.1% Immunogen (T1); 1% TEO + 0.2% Immunogen (T2); 2% TEO + 0.1% Immunogen (T3) and 2% TEO + 0.2% Immunogen (T4) for 60 days. According to results, all experimental treatments exhibited similar final weight, weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR), and survival rate (SR), which were significantly higher than those of the control treatment. Although all treatments reduced the feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to the control group, the lowest value was observed in T4. All experimental treatments showed a significant increase in amylase and protease activity compared to the control group. Moreover, the fish fed on T4 and T1 diets showed the highest and lowest lipase activity. Dietary TEO and Immunogen supplementations significantly increased WBC count and Hb level compared to the control group. Fish fed on control and T2 diets displayed lower hematocrit than fish fed on other experimental diets. The highest and lowest MCH index were recorded in T3 and control groups, respectively. The fish fed diets supplemented with T3 diet presented significantly higher MCV index compared to the control and T2 treatment. All experimental treatments exhibited similar AST, and ALP activities, which were significantly lower than those of the control group. Also, the lowest ALT activity was observed in T2 and T4 treatments compared to other groups. Dietary TEO and Immunogen supplementations significantly enhanced skin mucus total Ig, total protein level, and ACH50, protease, and lysozyme. All experimental treatments exhibited enhanced intestine total Ig, ACH50, and lysozyme level. Dietary thyme essential oil and Immunogen supplementations significantly enhanced liver antioxidant parameters including catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and decreased MDA production compared to fish fed on control diet. As a result, it can be suggested that the combination of thyme essential oil and Immunogen (specially 2% TEO + 0.2% Immunogen) is useful for enhancing the yield and well-being of farmed rainbow trout.

Parameters of nonspecific resistance of calves with respiratory pathology before and after treatment.

OBJECTIVE: The research was conducted to study the effect of a complex antimicrobial drug with an anti-inflammatory effect and an antimicrobial drug with an immunostimulating effect on the parameters of nonspecific resistance in calves. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two groups (n = 5 each) of sick calves with respiratory pathology were selected for this study. For the treatment of the first experimental group, a complex antimicrobial drug Sulfetrisan® was used. The second experimental group of the calves was intramuscularly injected with the experimental drug gentaaminoseleferon (GIA). To assess the cellular component of immunity in the blood before and after treatment, the number of white blood cells, T-lymphocytes, B-lymphocytes, phagocytic activity of leukocytes, phagocytic number, and phagocytic index (PhI) were determined. In addition, for assessing the humoral component, serum complement activity (SCA), serum lysozyme activity, serum bactericidal activity (SBA), circulating immune complexes (CIC), and total immunoglobulins (total Ig) were measured. The results were compared with the baseline parameters of healthy calves of the control group. RESULTS: When studying the parameters of the humoral and cellular components of nonspecific resistance, it was found that in sick animals, compared with healthy ones, respiratory pathology was accompanied by an imbalance in the immune system. In the process of recovery in animals of the experimental groups under the effect of the drugs, positive changes occurred. However, many of the studied parameters did not reach the values of healthy animals. In the group of calves that received GIA, compared with the calves given Sulfetrisan®, a significant increase in PhI (p < 0.05), SBA (p < 0.006), SCA (p < 0.05), total Ig (p < 0.0005), and CIC (p < 0.05) was observed, which indicated an increase in natural resistance due to the immunostimulating action. CONCLUSION: The use of GIA in sick animals added to an increase in the general nonspecific cellular and humoral resistance of calves, which made it possible to increase therapeutic efficacy and shorten their recovery time.

Protective effects of black seed (Nigella sativa) diet supplementation in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) against immune depression, oxidative stress and metabolism dysfunction induced by glyphosate.

Sustainable aquaculture arises as key to increase food production in the coming years. However, the sector still faces many challenges such as the exposure of the cultured animals to pesticide-contaminated water. Pesticides used in agriculture can reach aquaculture systems either directly (integrated-agriculture aquaculture practices) or indirectly (soil leakage) and cause a broad range of ecotoxicological effects on cultured fish and shellfish. Here, we studied how glyphosate affects several haematological, biochemical, and immune parameters in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) fingerlings, the fourth most important cultured fish species worldwide. We also evaluated the potential of dietary supplementation with black seed (Nigella sativa, 0.25, 0.5 and 1%) to lower glyphosate-associated toxicity. Our results showed that 14-day sub-lethal exposure of common carp fingerlings to glyphosate increases oxidative stress, decreases antioxidant defences, affects several metabolic pathways, and induced immune depression. Furthermore, we showed that fish fed with N. sativa-enriched diets at 0.25, 0.5 and 1% for 60 days coped better with glyphosate exposure than control fish and displayed more stable levels of biochemical serum parameters (total protein, albumin, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein LDL), cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein HDL), higher levels of immune defences (lysozyme and immunoglobulin) and higher antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase SOD, glutathione peroxidase GPx) than control fish. Fish fed with all enriched diets also displayed lower lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde MDA), lower metabolic enzymes (alanine aminotransferase ALT, aspartate aminotransferase AST and alkaline phosphatase ALP) levels in blood serum and lower cortisol levels than control fish. Altogether, our results show that dietary inclusion of black seed can be used as a sustainable bio-remediation strategy, mitigating many of the negative effects of glyphosate exposure in fish.

Effects of gentaminoseleferon on blood parameters during treatment of Mycoplasma dispar respiratory infection in calves.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Respiratory diseases in young cattle are among the significant cattle pathologies that cause considerable economic damage globally. For the treatment of respiratory diseases, coformulated drugs that increase general nonspecific resistance, exhibit adaptogenic and anti-inflammatory properties, and normalize metabolic processes in animals are currently being used. The aim of our study was to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of the complex drug "gentaminoseleferon," used in the treatment of respiratory diseases in calves, especially in Mycoplasma dispar infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The animals were divided into three groups. Calves with the first clinical signs of respiratory pathology were randomly divided into two groups. The first experimental group (n=5) was intramuscularly injected with sulfetrisan at a dose of 5-10 mL/animal once per day for 7 days. The second experimental group (n=5) was given gentaminoseleferon at a dose of 1 mL/10 kg of body weight once per day for 7 days. The drugs were not used in the control group, the "healthy animals (n=5)." Blood samples were taken 10 days before and after treatment and compared between the experimental and healthy calves. The changes in the hematological and biochemical parameters of blood and serum were evaluated. RESULTS: During the recovery process of animals in the experimental groups, a normalization of the hematological and biochemical parameters of blood and serum was noted. Interestingly, in calves of the second experimental group, an increase in the total serum protein content by 2.2% (p<0.05) was recorded in comparison with the first group. The second group, furthermore, showed an increase in Vitamins A, E, and C concentrations by 13.5% (p<0.05), 11.9% (p<0.005), and 15.1% (p<0.0005), respectively, as well as in zinc and iron concentrations by 4.1% (p<0.05) and 9.3% (p<0.0001), respectively. These findings indicate a more pronounced decrease in the inflammatory process in the respiratory system and intensive restoration of metabolism, thereby establishing the high therapeutic efficacy of gentaminoseleferon. CONCLUSION: Gentaminoseleferon was proven highly effective in the treatment of calves with respiratory illnesses and in restoring homeostasis in the organisms of animals after treatment, as indicated by the normalization of morphological and biochemical blood parameters with a reduction in the recovery time.

Special aspects of systemic inflammation course in animals.

AIM: In this study, we identified characteristics of systemic inflammation associated with surgical sepsis in animals. We evaluated the role of purine metabolism, functionally associated lipoperoxidation processes of membrane structures, and the antioxidant system in the development of surgical sepsis in dogs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dogs with a provisional exclusion of sepsis were included in the study. The control group (Group 1) included clinically healthy dogs (n=5), and medium-breed dogs with systemic inflammation response syndrome (n=30) were categorized in the experimental group (Group 2). Along with hemogram and biochemical analysis, we determined the amount of malondialdehyde, glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase on the 1st and 14th day of the study. Treatment included a thorough reorganization of the septic focus, followed by antibacterial therapy. Sick animals were injected with a drug (dexamethasone) that suppresses the synthesis and inhibits the action of inflammatory mediators. Decompensation of the functions of organs and systems was carried out using symptomatic therapy. RESULTS: We found that enhanced lipid peroxidation of unsaturated fatty acids of membrane structures stimulates the generalization of inflammatory process, as evidenced by the significant deviation from the physiologically normal values of lipid peroxidation, C-reactive protein, blood cell count, etc. The course of systemic inflammation associated with surgical sepsis in animals can be attributed to several consistently developing processes that function as a result of increased purine mononucleotide catabolism, peroxide compound formation, and their excessive breakdown in reactions associated with the consumption of glutathione due to the insufficient recovery of glutathione disulfide. CONCLUSION: The amount of uric acid, glycosaminoglycans, hyaluronic acid in blood plasma, and the content of malondialdehyde, glutathione, and glutathione reductase in erythrocytes should be considered when assessing the severity of the systemic inflammatory process. The increased glutathione requirement in dogs with surgical sepsis requires intervention with pharmacological agents, and further research is needed in this aspect.