Effect of certain immunomodulatory substances on the growth and disease resistance of Penaeus monodon (Fabricius)

Abstract

The effect of few immunomodulatory substances viz., β-glucan at 0.1%, 0.4% and 0.7% levels; vitamin C + folic acid at 2000 mg + 40 mg/kg, 4000 mg + 80 mg/kg and 6000 mg + 120 mg/kg and vitamin E + selenium at 300 mg + 3 mg/
kg, 600 mg + 6 mg/kg and 900 mg + 9 mg/kg levels were assessed by administering to Penaeus monodon through feed. In the growth study, shrimps (Penaeus monodon) fed with the β-glucan supplemented diet at the highest dose (0.7%) showed higher weight gain (1.48 g) and SGR (0.99) followed by β-
glucan at medium dose (0.4%), vitamin C + folic acid at lower dose (2000 mg + 40 mg/kg) and vitamin C + folic acid at medium dose (4000 mg + 80 mg/kg). In the disease resistance study, β-glucan at higher dose (0.7%) and vitamin C + folic acid at low level (2000 mg + 40 mg/kg) showed higher disease resistance (P<0.01 level), followed by β-glucan at medium and low levels (0.4% and 0.1%), vitamin C + folic acid at medium and high levels (4000 mg + 80 mg/kg and
6000 mg + 120 mg/kg). Vitamin E + selenium at all levels showed poor disease resistance compared to other immunomodulatory substances.