Innate immunity response of zafirlukast treated-tilapia during foreign body inflammation.

There is limited knowledge regarding the blockade of cysteinyl leukotriene receptors (CysLTRs) and their effects in teleost fish. The present study investigated the effects of Zafirlukast, antagonist of CysLTR1 receptor, on the foreign body inflammatory reaction in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Zafirlukast-treated tilapia demonstrated a decrease in the formation of multinucleated foreign body giant cells and Langhans cells on the round glass coverslips implanted in the subcutaneous tissue, along with a significant reduction in white blood cell counts and decreased production of reactive oxygen species. There was an increase in serum levels of α2-macroglobulins, as well as a decrease in ceruloplasmin and haptoglobin. Zafirlukast treatment led to a significant decrease in the area of splenic melanomacrophage centers and a reduction in the presence of lipofuscin. These findings highlight the potential anti-inflammatory effects of zafirlukast treatment in tilapia and indicate its action on CysLTR1 receptor, modulating the innate immune response of tilapia during the foreign body reaction. The comprehension of chronic inflammation mechanisms in fish has become increasingly relevant, especially concerning the utilization of biomaterials for vaccine and drug delivery.

Doxycycline treatment modulates the immune response of tilapia and controls Aeromonas hydrophila infection

The objective of this study was to evaluate the immunopharmacological activity of doxycycline, administered orally in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), during experimental infection by Aeromonas hydrophila, through the correlation between therapeutic efficacy and fish immune response. 160 Nile tilapia (±100 g) from the same spawning were distributed in 16 tanks (100 L, n = 10), constituting four treatments: control (infected and untreated); Infected and Treated with 20, 40 and 80 mg of doxycycline/Kg of b.w. Control fish and treated with the lowest dose of doxycycline (20 mg) exhibited typical signs of aeromonosis, including exophthalmos, fin erosion, hemorrhagic septicemia, corneal opacity and ascites. No clinical signs were observed in animals treated with 40 and 80 mg of doxycycline. There was a dose-response effect to the treatment with this tetracycline with relative percentage of survival (RPS) of 60, 73.3 and 93.3% for the treatments with 20, 40 and 80 mg/kg of b.w. when compared to control animals, as well as increased in the production of antibodies anti-A. hydrophila. Doxycycline treatment decreased monocytosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production observed in tilapia during A. hydrophila infection. Therefore, doxycycline administered orally to O. niloticus revealed the potential of this antimicrobial for use in tilapia farming, providing convincing results of the therapeutic efficacy against A. hydrophila. These results confirm the hypothesis that the antimicrobial action of doxycycline favored the defense mechanisms of tilapia treated mainly at a dose of 80 mg/kg. Although the exact mechanism of increased antibody response remains to be elucidated, the present observations demonstrate important practical significance for the sanitary management of tilapia farming.

Astaxanthin improves the shelf-life of tilapia fillets stored under refrigeration

Background: Astaxanthin, classified as a xanthophyll, has antioxidant properties about 500 times greater than α-tocopherols and 10 times greater than β-carotenes. Based on the antioxidant activity of this carotenoid, this study aimed to evaluate the shelf-life of tilapia fillets (Oreochromis niloticus) fed with astaxanthin, by determining the microbiological quality (colimetry, counts of mesophilic and psychrotrophic microorganisms), physicochemical analyzes (colorimetry, pH, TBARs) and sensory analysis. Results: Tilapia supplemented with astaxanthin presented reduction in the counts of microorganisms (mesophiles and psychrotrophics) and lower lipid oxidation index (TBARs), when compared to fillets of control fish. Colorimetric changes of fillet degradation were observed, associated with increased pH during storage, as well as loss of brightness and texture in addition to worsening in appearance and odor. These deteriorating changes were minimized using astaxanthin. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate the beneficial performance of astaxanthin in the shelf-life of tilapia fillets stored under refrigeration. Therefore, dietary supplementation with astaxanthin (100 and 200mg kg-1 of feed) improves the microbiological and physicochemical quality of tilapia fillets during 50 days of shelf-life.