Effect of Echinacea purpurea on growth and survival of guppy (Poecilia reticulata) challenged with Aeromonas bestiarum

Abstract

The effects of Echinacea purpurea supplementation on growth performance, nutrient utilization, body composition and disease resistance were studied in the ornamental fish Poecilia reticulata. Five diets were used, each differing in Echinacea content (0 g kg )1 diet -control, 5 g kg )1 dietgroup 1, 10 g kg )1 diet -group 2, 20 g kg )1 diet -group 3, 30 g kg )1 diet -group 4 and 60 g kg )1 diet -group 5), and the fish were fed twice daily at a rate of 30 g kg )1 body weight per day for 67 days. The gain in the body weight and the condition factor were significantly increased in groups 2-5, whereas specific growth rate and feed conversion ratio were significantly increased in the supplemented groups (P < 0.05). Cumulative mortalities after challenge infection with the fish pathogen Aeromonas bestiarum were the lowest in the groups supplemented with Echinacea. Log-rank tests showed significant differences between the supplemented groups 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 and the control group (P = 0.0074, P = 0.0075, P = 0.00507, P = 0.00001 and P = 0.00001, respectively). The results of this study indicate that Echinacea improves body weight gain and resistance against challenge infection in fish.

Effects of dietary administration of Echinacea purpurea on growth indices and biochemical and hematological indices in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fingerlings

“…In fish, it has been reported that EP increases specific growth rate (SGR), survival rate, resistance of challenge infection, total and differential white blood cell counts, lysozyme activity, and hematocrit and nitroblue tetrazolium values (Aly et al 2007(Aly et al , 2008Aly and Mohamed 2010). In guppy, EP administration increased weight gain and immune responses (Guz et al 2011). This study was done to evaluate the effects of EP on growth indices and hematological parameters of Oncorhynchus mykiss.…”

Effect of dietary supplementation with Echinacea purpurea on vaccine efficacy against infection with Flavobacterium columnare in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

“…Several immunomodulators have been used to prevent losses in fish farms (Sakai 1999). In previous research, dietary supplementation with EP has been found to enhance disease resistance against A. hydrophila in Nile tilapia (O. niloticus) (Aly and Mohamed 2010), and against A. bestiarum in guppy (P. reticulata) (Guz et al 2011). Stevenson et al (2005) demonstrated that Echinacea is an effective modulator of the macrophage immune response.…”

“…In fish, EP has been reported to increase specific growth rate, survival rate, resistance to challenge infection, total and differential white blood cell counts, lysozyme activity, and hematocrit and nitroblue tetrazolium values (Aly and Mohamed 2010, Kasiri et al 2011, Oskoii et al 2012. The effects of Echinacea supplementation on disease resistance have been studied in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) (Aly and Mohamed 2010) and in the ornamental fish Poecilia reticulata (Guz et al 2011).…”

Performance and hematological variables of piavuçu whose diets were supplemented with phytobiotic and probiotic additives

“…According to Windisch et al (2007), these compounds are defined as products extracted from plants that are used to improve development. Studies have demonstrated the benefits of adding different herbal extracts in fish nutrition and health, such as Echinacea purpurea (GUZ et al, 2011), Allium sativum (TALPUR; IKHWANUDDIN, 2012) and Cinnamomum zeylanicum (AHMAD et al, 2011), and Camellia sinensis (ABDEL-TAWWAB et al, 2010). However, the information found in the literature is still scarce.…”