The effects of feeding β-glucan to Pangasianodon hypophthalmus on immune gene expression and resistance to Edwardsiella ictaluri

• Main Authors: Wanna Sirimanapong, Kim D. Thompson, Ei Lin Ooi, Michaël Bekaert, Bertrand Collet, John B. Taggart, James E. Bron, Darren M. Green, Andrew P. Shinn, Alexandra Adams, Michael J. Leaver
• Other Authors: University of Stirling
• Format: Article
• Published: 2018
• Subjects: Agricultural and Biological Sciences; Environmental Science
• Online Access: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/35083
• Institution: Mahidol University

© 2015 Elsevier Ltd. Pangasianodon hypophthalmus (striped catfish) is an important aquaculture species and intensification of farming has increased disease problems, particularly Edwardsiella ictaluri. The effects of feeding β-glucans on immune gene expression and resistance to E. ictaluri in P. hypophthalmus were explored. Fish were fed 0.1% fungal-derived β-glucan or 0.1% commercial yeast-derived β-glucan or a basal control diet without glucan. After 14 days of feeding, the mRNA expression of immune genes (transferrin, C-reactive protein, precerebellin-like protein, Complement C3 and factor B, 2a MHC class II and interleukin-1beta) in liver, kidney and spleen were determined. Following this fish from each of the three diet treatment groups were infected with E. ictaluri and further gene expression measured 24 h post-infection (h.p.i.), while the remaining fish were monitored over 2 weeks for mortalities. Cumulative percentage mortality at 14 days post-infection (d.p.i.) was less in β-glucan fed fish compared to controls. There was no difference in gene expression between dietary groups after feeding for 14 days, but there was a clear difference between infected and uninfected fish at 24 h.p.i., and based on principal component analysis β-glucans stimulated the overall expression of immune genes in the liver, kidney and spleen at 24 h.p.i.