β-glucans: Immunomodulatory effects and mortality control

To use antibiotics or vaccines for fish is expensive and in many farms its use is unavailable. Thus, the use of substances or additives incorporated into the feed to improve the survival rate, disease resistance and growth of fish and shrimp has been used more frequently and more successfully.

Innate responses in fish

Fish, similar to mammals, have the innate and the adaptive immune systems, with the innate being responsible for primary responses, where the response is fast, is not specific, and with no memory against recontaminations, and the adaptive is the responsible for specific responses, in other words, intense response with specific antibodies for each pathogen.

The most widely known cells of the innate immune system are the macrophages, neutrophils, dendritic cells and natural killer cells. Toll-like receptors, located on the surface of immunological cells, recognise microbial patterns and induce an immediate innate immune response. After this activation and phagocytosis, the phagocyte presents a processed fragment of the pathogen to the adaptive immune system and stimulates an anti-pathogen response. Therefore the phagocytes are called antigen-presenting cells. The recognition of pathogens by the innate immune system triggers immediate innate defenses and activation of the adaptive immune response.

β-glucans: Immune system modulators

ImmunoWall, from ICC Brazil is a product composed by the cell wall of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast, originating from sugarcane fermentation process for ethanol production. This product contains around 35% of β-glucans and 20% of mannan oligosaccharides (MOS). β-glucans are known as immune system modulators or stimulants, because when they come in contact with the phagocytes, which recognise the β-1,3 and 1,6 bindings, these are stimulated and will produce some cytokines, which will start a chain reaction inducing an immunomodulation and improving the response capacity of the innate immune system. (Figure 1).

This type of response is especially important in animals in initial growth, reproductive phases, stress periods, and environmental challenges; acting as a prophylactic agent and increasing animal resistance, minimising further damages (such as a drop in performance or high mortality rates). Intensive animal production is a highly challenging environment. Thus the strengthening of the immunological system can be one of the keys toward greater productivity.

MOS is known for their pathogen agglutination capacity (mainly those with type 1 fimbria), as well as, diverse gram-negative strains. MOS offers a binding site for pathogens, preventing the colonization of the intestinal epithelium, and these agglutinated bacteria will be excreted together with the indigestible part of the fiber (Figure 2).

Performance trials in fish

In a recently study conducted at Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt by Abu-Elala, et al., Oreochromis niloticus (50.7±0.8 g of BW) were divided into 3 experimental groups: Control , 0.1% and 0.2% of ImmunoWall; being 90 fishes for each treatment (3 replicate/tanks). During 2 months the performance of fishes was measured at every 2 weeks, and at the end of the trial, 5 fishes/replicate were euthanized in order to evaluate clinicopathological, oxidant and antioxidant parameters, relative quantitative PCR of immune gene expression, phagocytic activity (%) and index, lysozyme activity (µg/mL). After 2 months, the fishes were challenged against gram-positive bacteria Lactococcus gravaeie, and gram-negative Aeromonas hydrophila and the mortality rates were observed during 1 week.

No significant difference (P>0.05) were found among treatments for performance results, however, is possible to observe a numerical increase. The product improved clinicopathological results (WBCs, GPT, GOT, TP and Globulin) as well as, relative quantitative PCR expression of IL1-β and phagocytic and lysozyme activities (P<0.05). a reduction of g-reductase enzymatic activities was observed, and 0.2% of product supplementation increased catalase enzyme. after the challenge with the both bacteria’s, mortality decreased (p><0.05) in both groups with immunowall supplementation (>Table 1).

Improved innate immunity

In conclusion, the inclusions of 0.1 and 0.2% of the yeast product were able to improve clinicopathological response and innate immunity. ImmunoWall supplementation decreased oxidative enzymes activity and mortality rates when the fishes were challenged with Lacococcus gravaeie and Aeromonas hydrophila, compared to control group. The decrease in mortality rates after the challenges was consistent and represented at least 50% more survival rates in cases where there is 100% mortality due to pathogen contamination.

Other studies have been published about benefits of yeast cell wall supplementation in aquaculture. Ebrahimi et al. (2011) studying common carp fingerlings (Cyprinus carpio) infected with Aeromonas hydrophila found a significant increase in survival rates number of leucocytes and improvement in feed conversion ratio results in groups fed diets with ImmunoWall from 1 to 2.5%. Ebrahimi (2010) reported a decrease in total bacteria counts in the intestine and an increase in survival rate and feed conversion ratio improvement of Rutilus frisii Kutum fingerlings fed with ImmunoWall from 0.5 to 2.5%. Karimzadeh et al. (2013) studying Rutilus kutum larvae found an improvement in survival rate, final body weight, and feed conversion ratio, as well as a decrease in total bacteria counts in the intestine at 0.5% of ImmunoWall supplementation.

Modulating the innate immune system

Enhance and modulate the innate immune system may be one of the strategies to combat contamination, reducing mortality and improve productivity. If dietary yeast cell wall is supplied early to the animals, the immune system will be modulated and will be alert to many infections or contaminations. The action of the β-glucan occurs on the innate immune system, in other words, where the first immune response to pathogen contamination happens, avoiding a greater expenditure of energy during a prolonged inflammation process and mobilising the adaptive immune system faster, avoiding losses in production and high mortality rates.

References available on request