ARS | Publication request: FEED DEPRIVATION AFFECTS THE RESISTANCE OF CHANNEL CATFISH TO EDWARDSIELLA ICTALURI INFECTION

Submitted to: Global Aquaculture Advocate
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: December 2, 2005
Publication Date: July 18, 2006
Citation: Lim, C.E., Aksoy, M., Klesius, P.H. 2006. Feed deprivation affects the resistance of channel catfish to Edwardsiella ictaluri infection. Global Aquaculture Advocate. July/August 2006, 9(4): 86-87.

Technical Abstract: It is commonly known that feeding practices may influence the nutritional status of fish which may in turn affect their disease resistance by altering fish immune function and/or growth of infectious microorganisms. Results of two earlier studies conducted at our laboratory indicated that, in a controlled environment where natural food was absent, starvation of juvenile channel catfish for 4 weeks resulted in weight loss, decreased macrophage chemotaxis, and early and high mortality following E. ictaluri challenge. Discontinuing feeding after challenge increased the mortality due to ESC regardless of feeding regimens used prior to challenge. Satiation feeding once daily or every other day prior to and after challenge improved the resistance of fish to ESC. Therefore, it is suggested that juvenile channel catfish should be fed once daily or at least once every other day to apparent satiation, even during an ESC epizootic, to improve their resistance to E. ictaluri.