Nutritional feed additives reduce the adverse effects of transport stress in the immune system of Tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum)

ABSTRACT: Here we show that selected nutritional feed additives reduce the adverse effects of transport stress on the immune system and hematology of tambaqui. We formulated a control diet to contain normal dietary levels of vitamin E (21.6 mg/ kg diet) and C (143 mg/kg), then we added supra levels of these vitamins (vit E – 264 mg/kg and vit C – 1000 mg/kg) to a second diet. Finally, a third diet was produced to contain similar levels of vitamins from diet 2 with 0.1% beta-glucan supplementation. Four hundred thirty-two tambaquis (20.91 g ± 0.27 g) were randomly assigned to 12 aquaria and fed the diets for 15 days; then, all fish were transported for five h and then returned to the aquaria. Blood samples were collected before and after the transport and at the end of the trial (60 days). Transportation significantly increased blood glucose that returned to baseline levels at the end of the trial. However, cortisol seemed to be unresponsive to the stress. Surprisingly, the stress significantly increased the immunoglobulin level after transport. Additionally, the transport markedly reduced the red blood cell count and leukocyte and lymphocytes counts while increasing the control group's neutrophil number. These effects lasted until the end of the trial in the control group. Supra levels of the vitamins and glucan supplementation prevented the decrease in red blood cell and leukocyte count after the stress. Additionally, beta-glucan supplementation induced lower cortisol levels in all the sampling points. However, the effect on the immune parameters was limited, increasing only the lysozyme activity and serum protein levels in the beta-glucan supplemented group and the group fed only the supra levels of vitamins, respectively. In sum, our results indicated that transport for five h induced a limited effect on stress biomarkers. The use of supra levels of antioxidant vitamins alone or in combination with beta-glucan could restore or prevent the adverse effects of stress on hematology and the immune system.