Dietary Administration of Pleurotus sajor-caju Mushroom Extract on Growth, Immune Response and Disease Resistance in Gibelion catla against Aeromonas hydrophila

This study evaluated the effects of dietary administered at different doses of Pleurotus sajor-caju extract on the growth, immune response and disease resistance of Gibelion catla against Aeromonas hydrophila infection. Fish (mean body weight 20 ± 0.1 g) was fed with diet containing P. sajor-caju extract at various concentrations like, 0 (control), T1 – 0.25%, T2 – 0.5%, T3 – 0.75% and T4 – 1% (v/w) for 30 days. Different growth parameters [weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion rate, immune parameters (neutrophil activity and lysozyme activity)] were examined at 14 days interval of post feeding. Fishes were challenged with live A. hydrophila 30 days post feeding and mortalities were recorded over 14 days post infection. Results showed that administration of P. sajor-caju for 30 days had significant effects (p < 0.05) on the WG and SGR, and increased the serum lysozyme and respiratory burst activity in G. catla throughout the experimental period. The highest lysozyme and respiratory burst activity were observed in the fish group fed diet containing P. sajor-caju at 0.5 and 0.75%. As a result of the challenge test, the survival rate was found to be the highest in the 0.5 and 0.75% in P. sajor-caju supplemented feeding group. The results suggested that fish fed with P. sajor-caju mushroom extract supplemented diet enhanced the growth, immune response of fish and decreased the mortality rate in G. catla against A. hydrophila.