BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial agents can alter physiological status and immunity system of the host, and use of hematological indices are the appropriate marker for monitoring them. OBJECTIVES: The present study intended assessment of changed hematological indices of rainbow trout challenged with streptococcosis/lactococcosis agents following oral administration of florfenicol. METHODS: The purchased fish (55±7.5 g) were examined through a randomized blocks design in the replicated 6 treatments consisting of without/with the infectious challenge of each pathogen separately and without/with medicated feeding in 15 mg/kg-1 BW for 10 consecutive days. Doses of Streptococcus iniae (2.87×107 CFU/ml) and Lactococcus garvieae (6.8×105 CFU/ml) equal to 30% of LD50 values were applied in the main experiment. At the end of trial, blood was sampled via caudal vein. Measurement of hematocrit and hemoglobin has been accomplished according to standard methods, and the number of blood cells was counted by hematocytometer. RESULTS: Findings pointed out PVC%, Hb value and RBCs count of groups that received the drug were reduced significantly than control (p < /em><0.05). 10-day administration of flornfeicol in the mentioned dosage could cut down lymphocytes statistically (p < /em><0.05). On the other hand, monocytes, neutrophils, and other blood cells were enhanced following administration of therapeutical dosage (p < /em><0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It seems that oral consumption of florfenicol could improve innate immunity, especially through enhancement of hematocytes. However, due to reduced frequency of blood lymphocytes, and as the problem of anemia in fish following drug consumption is still observed, it is recommended that in case of reduction of losses and improvement of clinical symptoms, the lowest FDA-suggested levels of the antibiotic for treatment should be used.

BACKGROUND: Lactococcusis disease due to Lactococcus garvieae, one of the most important zoonotic bacterial diseases. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of Cinnamon essential oil and Nisin on the growth of Lactococcus garvieae. Methods: The effect of cinnamon essential oil with concentrations of 0, 0.25 and 0.75%, and Nisin 0, 0.4 and 0.8 μg/mL on growth of this bacteria at 4 and 8 °C during 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 days of storage was investigated. Results: The results of this study showed that on samples kept at 4 °C, bacterial growth was delayed until the fifteenth day using cinnamon essential oil or Nisin, and in the case of cinnamon, the growth rate of bacteria in the ninth and fifteenth days was below 2 log cfu/g. While the combination of 0.8 μg/ml Nicin and 0.75% essential oil of cinnamon postponed growth on the third day. At 8 °C, Nisin, the cinnamon essential oil alone and in combination (similar to 4 ºC) until the sixth day prevented bacterial growth. Compared to the control treatment, the concentration of Nisin and cinnamon essential oil had a significant difference in inhibitory bacterial growth (P<0.05). The results also showed that the combination of Nisin and cinnamon essential oil, had a significantly higher effect than their single state. Conclusions: Results indicate that Nisin and cinnamon essential oil effectively inhibit the growth of Lactococcus garvieae in the rainbow trout fillet.

BACKGROUND: There is growing evidence that resistance to antibiotics is increasing, and because of their wide range of negative impacts on the environment and humans, also accumulative effects in fish meat and hazards for humans, there have been numerous studies conducted using medicinal plants as a healthier alternative to antibiotics.OBJECTIVES: This study examined the antibacterial effect of two native medicinal herbs (oregano and echinacea mixed essential oil) on Lactococcus garvieae compared with some commercial antibiotics used in fish farms.METHODS: The antibacterial activities against a fish bacterial pathogen (Lactococcus garvieae) were tested using the disk diffusion method, followed by the determination of minimum inhibitory (MIC) and bactericidal (MBC) concentrations via sequential dilution of essential oil by Broth Micro Dilution method.RESULTS: The results showed antimicrobial activities of mentioned mixed essential oil with MIC ≥ 6.25 μL/mL and MBC ≥ 12.5 μL/mL. Also, the measurements of the diameter of inhibitory zones are consistent with the results of MIC and MBC, indicating the positive effect of this plant mix oil Lactococcus garvieae. However, the Lactococcus garvieae was more sensitive to Enrofloxacin (NFX 5), and Sulfamethoxazole &amp; Trimethoprim (SXT) (P<0.05), but the combination of Oregano and Echinacea essential oils performed better than Florfenicol (FF) despite the weaker effects against mentioned two antibiotics.CONCLUSIONS: The results approved the antibacterial activity of the mixed essential oil of oregano and Echinacea against Lactococcus garvieae on the laboratory scale. Using these compounds as a possible substitute for antibiotic compounds requires more clinical studies.