Effects of Dietary Supplementation with Garlic Extract on Immune Responses and Diseases Resistance of Olive Flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the effects of dietary 1% garlic extract on nonspecific immune responses and fish diseases (Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus, Vibrio anguillarum, Streptococcus iniae and Edwardsiella tarda) resistance in olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus. Fish were fed a commercial diets supplemented with 1% garlic extract for 4 weeks. After the 4 weeks feeding experiment, the artificial infection was made by V. anguillarum, S. iniae, E. tarda and VHSV. And the cumulative mortality was monitored for 2 weeks after artificial infection. The cumulative mortalities decreased in all experiments except for group of E. tarda compared to control group. We observed significantly higher levels of the hematocrit, glucose, total protein, lysozyme activity and the macrophage activity in the experimental group compared to the control group. In the experiments of drug sensitivity and MIC using the three bacteria (V. anguillarum, S. iniae and E. tarda), 1% garlic extract was more effective than the previously reported fermented garlic powder. These results suggested that garlic extract can increase the disease resistance of olive flounder against V. anguillarum, S. iniae and VHSV and the ability of nonspecific immune responses.