Effect of dietary supplementation of probiotic and vitamin C on the immune response of Indian major carp, Labeo rohita (Ham.)

The immunostimulatory effect of probiotics and vitamin C has been established in many systems including fish. An investigation was carried out to study the effect of dietary supplementation of a probiotic bacterium "Bacillus subtilis", vitamin C in the form of ascorbyl polyphosphate and their combination on the immune response of Indian major carp, rohu, (Labeo rohita Ham.) fingerlings fed for a period of 60 days. The total serum protein and globulin content was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in probiotic (B. subtilis @ 10(8) CFU/g of the feed) fed group while the respiratory burst activity of blood neutrophils was significantly high in vitamin C (ascorbyl polyphosphate @ 100 mg per kg diet) fed group. The antibody level was significantly high in Bacillus subtilis treated group followed by the probiotic (B. subtilis @ 10(8) CFU/g of the feed) and ascorbyl polyphosphate (ascorbyl polyphosphate @100 mg per kg diet) combined group. The least percentage of mortality was recorded in B. subtilis treated group (25%) followed by 35 and 40% in ascorbyl polyphosphate treated and B. subtilis and ascorbyl polyphosphate combined groups, respectively. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.