EVALUATION OF IMMUNOSTIMULATORY POTENTIAL OF PHYLLANTHUS AMARUS IN LABEO ROHITA INFECTED WITH AEROMONAS HYDROPHILA: HAEMATOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT

Outbreak of disease is an important limiting factor in aquaculture. Incorporation of herbal immunostimulants in diet is one of the widely followed methods to improve the general resistance in fish. The present experiment was carried out to evaluate the Immunostimulatory potential of the medicinal herb Phyllanthus amarus in fish. The experiment was carried out in two sets. In experiment-I, one group of Labeo rohita was fed with control diet (‘C’ diet) and the other group was fed with Phyllanthus amarus incorporated diet (‘P’ diet) for 14 days and the haematological parameters were analysed on 1st, 3rd, 7th and 14th day of the experiment. Significant increase in Total Erythrocyte Count (TEC), Haemoglobin (Hb g%), Total Leucocyte Count (TLC), lymphocytes, monocytes and neutrophils were observed in ‘P’ diet fed fishes with increase in the duration of the experiment. As there is positive response in the first experiment hence experiment-II was carried out. In experiment-II, One group of Labeo rohita were fed with ‘C’ diet and other group received ‘P’ diet for 14 days, post-infected with Aeromonas hydrophila and haematological parameters were analyzed on 1st, 3rd, 7th & 14th days after infection. Significant increase in TEC, Hb, TLC, lymphocytes and a steady population of monocytes and neutrophils were observed in ‘P’ diet fed fishes. On the other hand basophils and eosinophil count exhibited a fluctuating trend. Thus dietary incorporation of Phyllanthus amarus helps to improve the general health and resistance of the fish.