Some Hematological and Non-Specific Immune Responses of Rosehip (Rosa canina) - Fed Russian Sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii Brandt & Ratzeburg, 1833) to Mycobacterium salmoniphilum

ABSTRACT

In the study, the immunostimulant effects of rosehip (Rosa canina) on the health indicator hematological and non-specific immune parameters of Mycobacterium salmoniphilum-infected sturgeon were investigated. The rosehip was applied in the ratios of R5 (5%), R10 (10%), and R15 (15%) in three repetitions. After a 35-day feeding period, the fish were infected with M. salmoniphilum and analyzed after day 7, when symptoms were observed at elevated levels. Erythrocyte, erythrocyte indices, hemoglobin, hematocrit, leukocyte levels and the non-specific immune parameters including lymphocyte, monocyte, eosinophil, neutrophil, cytokines, phagocytic activity levels were comparatively examined using positive and negative control groups. The evaluations revealed that the RBC, Hb, Hct and WBC counts in the R15 group were significantly higher than those of the C+ group. Moreover, depending on the level of the immune response of the fish, among the immune parameters, significant increases in the lymphocyte, monocyte, cytokine, and phagocytic activity levels were observed in the R15 group. The results showed that the hematological and immune response to M. salmoniphilum infection was stimulated significantly in the 15% rosehip-fed fish. Hence, the effective dose of rosehip in fish was determined to be 15% and rosehip is suggested as an alternative to currently recommended immunostimulants.

Keywords:
Russian Sturgeon; Rosehip; Mycobacterium salmoniphilum; Hematological Parameters; Immunological Parameters

INTRODUCTION

Sturgeon fish is well-adapted to the conditions in Turkey and thus, its production is carried out successfully in the country but their susceptibility to the pathogenic factors and their protection against the diseases are of great importance and therefore, require immediate attention¹.

Fish mycobacteriosis is a chronic disease caused by Mycobacterium spp. It causes fish tuberculosis and is characterized by granulomas in various size in the tissues of fishes and directly targets spleen, kidney, and liver. Mycobacteriosis is a progressive, often lethal disease, affecting a wide range of fish species both farmed and wild and as a fish species of interest to the study, it prevalently afflicts sturgeon fish as well².

Rosehip (Rosa canina L.) is used both in the pharmaceutical industry and, because of the essential oil content of its seeds, in the cosmetics industry as well as in vitamin C, proanthocyanin, and carotene production. As a micronutrient with immunostimulatory effects, rosehip is rich in vitamin C i.e ascorbic acid (AA) which protects organisms against the damages of free oxygen radicals formed during normal metabolic activities or due to exposure to infection, stress, and pollution³. Tatina et al.⁴, reported that most species, including sturgeon fish, cannot synthesize ascorbic acid and thus, needed to supply it from outside sources. Vitamin C is an important immunostimulant that induces a significantly elevated macrophage function and increases the resistance of non-specific host to bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections⁵. Verlhac et al.⁶, determined that the vitamin C and glucan mixed in the feed of Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) stimulated the humoral and cellular immune response and thus, resulted in increases in the macrophage activity, complement activation, lysozyme levels, and antibody titers. In a similar study, Raa⁷, investigated the use of immunostimulant substances in cultured fish and reported their health-promoting effects on fish.

The investigation of the fish blood biochemistry, cells, and hormones is of great importance in the monitoring of the physiology of fish and diagnosis of fish diseases⁸. Hematological parameters are among the most important indicators of the toxic compounds, pesticides, and metals in organisms in aquatic environments and have an important role in determining the physiological response of fish to environmental conditions^9,10. Furthermore, along with the other routine diagnostic tools, hematology is also of great importance in the determination and evaluation of the conditions that may induce stress in fish¹¹. The cytokines used in the study are infection inhibitors that play a role both in natural immunity and the development of hematopoietic cells in addition to inducing the immune functions of cells.

In the study, as potential indicators of fish health and physiology, certain hematological and nonspecific immune parameters of Mycobacterium salmoniphilum-infected Russian sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii) were investigated and interpreted after feeding the fish with a mixture of the basal feed and natural immunostimulant rosehip in different ratios.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Fish Samples and Experimental Design

Of the sturgeon fish procured from a commercial firm, 10 fish samples were stocked in three repetitions per a 2x1x1 m concrete pond from the total 15 ponds in the same establishment. A total of 150 fish samples from the 307.8±11.4-g, 42.3±3.9-cm, and 18-month-old Russian sturgeon fish were fed with feeds containing 5% (R₅), 10% (R₁₀), and 15% (R₁₅) ground rosehip experimental groups (REGs) (table 1). The fish samples were fed for 45 days and after day 35, the Mycobacterium salmoniphilum pathogen was injected to the fish samples, except for the negative control group (C-). The hematological and non-specific evaluations of the control and infected fish samples were started on day 7 of the infection. In addition, the measurements for the water temperature, oxygen, and pH of the ponds were performed using a YSI 6600-brand CTD multiparameter instrument.

Table 1
Experimental design. Rosehip experimental groups (REGs) and control groups (C+, C-).

Control Groups	M. salmoniphilum	Rosehip (RH)
Positive Control (C+)	+	-
Negative Control (C-)	-	-
REGs
5% Rosehip (R5)	+	+
10% Rosehip (R10)	+	+
15% Rosehip (R15)	+	+

Preparation of Basal (Control) Diet and Rosehip (RH) Diets

The basal Sturgeon feed, extruded complete feed (no:4.0), procured from a commercial firm in an amount equal to 1.6% of their live weight¹² (Table 2).

Table 2
Formulation of basal sturgeon diet (feed formulation g/100g)

Basic Content	Amounts
Wheat	15
Dehulled Extracted Toasted Soya	13
Poultry Meal	5
Fish meal	37
Blood Meal	7
Wheat gluten	8
Lipids
Fish oil	12
Vitamins and Minerals
Vitamin A	10020 IU/kg
Vitamin C	500 mg/kg
Vitamin E	200 mg/kg
Vitamin D3	1137 IU/kg
Phosphorus	0.9 %
Calcium	1.5 %
Sodium	0.3 %
Antioxidants
Ethoxyquin	100 mg/kg
Butylated hydroxytoluene	32 mg/kg

Rosehip was obtained fresh from its natural habitat, dried in an oven at 70˚C, ground in a Retsch Agate Mortar Grinder, and mixed with basal sturgeon feed in three different ratios (5%, 10% and 15%). The powdered, dried, and ground rosehip was mixed with the pelleted basal feed in different ratios and sent to Mavi Protein Consulting, Aquaculture &Animal Husbandry Industry, İzmir, Turkey for final preparation. The feeds were stirred 20 minutes, pelleted in the appropriate sizes, and dried in an oven at 40 ^oC. The dried feed was stored at + 4 °C in glass jars until use. Basal sturgeon feeds were used for the control groups (C+, C-), while the rosehip experimental groups (REGs) were fed with the basal sturgeon feeds containing different amounts of rosehip (table 3). The fish were fed 4 times a day with the basal (control) and rosehip diets.

Table 3
Proximate composition of 100% rosehip (RH), basal diet (control) and rosehip experimental groups (REGs).

				REGs
	(100%) RH	Basal Diet (Control)	R5 (5%)	R10 (10%)	R15 (15%)
Crude protein (%)	5.50±1.0	46.03±1.2	45.16±0.8	44.61±1.3	43.88±1.2
Moisture (%)	8.06±0.1	7.49±0.5	9.23±0.4	9.94±1.1	10.15±0.7
Ash (%)	1.75±0.0	6.82±1.3	7.28±0.2	6.87±0.7	6.12±0.5
Crude fat (%)	3.70±0.1	15.72±0.8	15.85±1.2	16.17±0.5	16.94±0.1

• Data are represented as mean ± SD.

The measurements for the nutritional contents of the REGs, control feeds (basal diet) and the ascorbic acid (AA) in rosehip were performed in the food engineering laboratories of the Instrumental Analyses and Agriculture Faculty and Fisheries Faculty at Çukurova University, Turkey. For the AA analysis, rosehip extracts were injected into an Agilent 1260 model High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) device containing a Diode Array Detector (DAD). HPLC system (LC-10A HPLC Series, Shimadzu, Kyoto, Japan) equipped with a pump system, a UV/Vis detector (SPD-20A) monitored at 210 nm, for the analysis of ascorbic acids. Ascorbic acid was analyzed onto an Aminex HPX-87H column (300 ×7.8 mm) (Bio-Rad) and kept at 55 °C ²⁵. The analytical conditions used were as follows: flow 0.3 mL min−1 , eluent 0.045 N H2SO4 with 6% acetonitrile (v/v). The AA values were determined using the calibration curves obtained by an external standard method of Lee and Cuates 2000¹³. After than the ratios (5%, 10% and 15%) of rosehip additions to the experimental feed were used for this research.

Experimental Infection with Mycobacterium salmoniphilum

Mycobacterium salmoniphilum purchased commercially and the inoculum from this pure culture was used to infect fish. Commercial product name is “Mycobacterium salmoniphilum (ex Ross) Whipps et al. (ATCC 13758)”. In all experimental groups (except for the C- group) at the end of the 35-day feeding period, the fish were anaesthetized with phenoxyethanol (0.01 mg/l, 4 to 5 min.) (Sigma Chemical Co., Germany) using a bathing method¹⁵. Of the M. salmoniphilum inoculum in a previously established concentration suitable for experimental infection (1.2x10⁸ cfu/ml), 0.1 ml was intraperitoneally injected into a total of 120 fish in 12 tanks. To ensure that the groups were under equal stress conditions that were caused by the application, the fish in the control (C-) group were injected with the same amount of physiological saline as the amount used in the injections to the fish in the other REGs and the mortality of all groups were monitored every 12 hours. After day 7 of injection, which corresponds to the time at which the symptoms are observed at elevated levels, 15 samples from each of the control (C+) and infected fish groups were collected for hematological and immunological analyses. Moreover, to observe the damages caused by the pathogen to the tissues and organs, the fish were dissected and in the sample collection carried out on day 7 after the injection, M. salmoniphilum was re-isolated from the damaged visceral organs and blood of the sturgeon fish using the Löwenstein-Jensen medium¹⁶.

The external and internal pathologies in the fish were photographed.

Hematological and Non-Specific Immune Analyses

Before the hematological and non-specific immune analyses, fish in all groups were anaesthetized with phenoxyethanol (0.01mg/L, 4 to 5 min)¹⁵. Blood samples were taken from the caudal vein using a syringe, transferred into EDTA-containing tubes, and stored at 4°C. Leukocyte (WBC), erythrocyte (RBC), hematocrit (Hct), and hemoglobin (Hb) were measured with an MS4-e Veterinary Hematology Analyzer (Hemocell counter) of the sturgeon fish scales. Erythrocyte indices, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were calculated according to Stolen et al.¹⁷. Among the non-specific immune parameters, different methods were employed for leukocyte formulas, phagocytic activity, and cytokine levels. Peripheral blood smears were stained with May-Grünwald & Giemsa. Leukocyte formulas (lymphocyte, monocyte, and granulocyte) were determined using the blood smears collected from each fish¹⁸. The phagocytic activities of leukocyte cells were determined using a spectrophotometric method^19,20. For the serum TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 cytokine levels, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits suitable for use in fish were used and the results were evaluated based on the principles of the double-antibody sandwich method. In the analyses, the Fish Interleukin 1beta (IL- 1beta) ELISA Kit (Catalog no. MBS700230), Fish Interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) ELISA Kit (Catalog no. MBS702530), Fish Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha ELISA Kit (Catalog no. MBS024441), Fish Interleukin 6 (IL-6) ELISA Kit (Catalog no. MBS702353), and Fish Interleukin-8 (IL-8) ELISA Kit (Catalog no. MBS700055) were used²¹.

Disease Resistance

The 60 fish remaining after the blood analyses (except for the C− group) were left in the tanks to observe the intergroup mortality and relative percent survival (RPS) rates on day 10 of infection. Relative percent survival (RPS) was calculated using the Ellis²² formula;

$RPS=1-\frac{\left(Percent\text{mortality}intreatedgroup\right)}{\left(Percent\text{mortality}incontrolgroup\right)}\times 100$

Statistical Analyses

The results obtained for the hematological and non-specific parameters were compared using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). A Duncan multiple comparison test of the one-way ANOVA was used to compare the mean differences. The differences were accepted significant at p ≤ 0.05²³.

RESULTS

The AA content of 1-g ground rosehip was determined to be 2.15 mg/g (table 4). Hence, the ratios of AA in the rosehip-containing experimental groups were 107.55 mg/kg, 215.10 mg/kg, and 322.65 mg/kg for R₅, R₁₀, and R₁₅, respectively (table 4). During the trial, the mean water temperature, dissolved oxygen amount, and pH in the tanks were measured to be 24 ± 0.01˚C, 7.6 ± 0.02 mg/L, and pH 7.8, respectively.

Table 4
The average amounts of ascorbic acid (AA) in 100% rosehip (RH) and rosehip experimental groups (REGs) analyzed by HPLC.

	Ascorbic Acid
	(100%) RH	2.15 mg/g RH
	R5 ( 5% )	107.55 mg/kg meal
REGs	R10 ( 10 %)	215.10 mg/kg meal
	R15 ( 15%)	322.65 mg/kg meal

Hematological and Non-Specific Immune Parameters

The comparison of the RBC, Hb, and Hct values of the R₁₅ group with those of the positive control group (C+) showed that the values were significantly increased relative to those of the other REGs. Similar significant increases were also determined in the WBC level (p≤0.05). On the other hand, among the erythrocyte indices, there were no significant differences between the groups (REGs) in terms of the MCH and MCHC values (p≥0.05) (table 5).

Table 5
Hematological parameters in Russian Sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedti i). Rosehip experimental groups (REGs). Control groups: (C+): positive control, (C-): negative control

		REGs		Control	Groups
	R5	R10	R15	C+	C-
RBC (x106/mm3)	0.77 ± 0.25a	0.75 ± 0.11a	1.07 ± 0.21b	0.86 ± 0.12a	1.19 ± 0.18b
HCT (%)	24.11 ± 0.81a	23.04 ± 1.74a	29.46 ± 1.33b	22.8 ± 1.16a	30.1 ± 2.15b
HB (g/dL)	6.91 ± 0.47a	6.83 ± 0.32a	9.12 ± 0.77b	6.28 ± 0.64a	10.13 ± 0.58b
MCV (µ3)	306.85± 32.1a	301.06 ± 38.4a	269.82± 29.7b	259.12 ± 23.5b	247.89 ± 31.2b
MCH (pg)	88.39 ± 9.2a	89.68 ± 9.7a	83.95 ± 8.4a	71.92 ± 7.9b	84.83 ± 9.8a
MCHC (%)	28.37 ± 1.04a	29.23 ± 1.62a	30.31 ± 1.97a	27.08 ± 2.03a	34.25 ± 2.42b
WBC (x103/mm3)	14.69 ± 0.72a	15.58 ± 0.28a	19.23 ± 0.54b	15.72 ± 0.42a	10.88 ± 0.63c

Lymphocyte and monocyte levels are important indicators of the non-specific immune system and as it was the case in other hematological findings, the lymphocyte and monocyte cell levels of the R₁₅ group were significantly higher than those of the C+ group due to the elevated immune response in the R₁₅ fish, while there were no significant differences between the groups in the eosinophil levels (table 6). The IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α cytokine levels showed that, among the REGs, there were significantly higher increases in the levels of the 15% RH group compared with the C+ group (p≤0.05) (table 6).

Table 6
Non-specific immune responses in Russian Sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii). Rosehip experimental groups (REGs). Control groups: (C+): positive control, (C-): negative control

		REGs		Control	Groups
Non-Specific Immune Parameters	R5	R10	R15	C+	C-
Lymphocyte(%)	65.45 ± 3.2a	68.16 ± 5.3a	78.41 ± 2.39b	71.04 ± 4.82a	57.63 ± 1.22c
Monocyte (%)	12.14±0.92a	10.83±1.28a	17.32±1.46b	10.26±1.91a	9.17±1.68a
Neuthrophil (%)	15.48 ± 1.92a	20.35 ± 2.7b	22.18 ± 1.7b	14.57 ± 2.24a	17.23 ± 2.33b
Eosinophil (%)	5.20±0.52a	4.91±0.87a	7.51±0.4a	6.85±0.64a	6.39±0.72a
Phagocytic Activity (O.D. 510 nm)	0.29±0.2a	0.31±0.1a	0.42±0.4b	0.32±0.3a	0.31±0.4a
TNF-α (pg/ml)	33.62±10.13 a	30.26±13.74 a	52.19±10.81 b	31.47±11.2 a	25.86±7.51 c
IFN-γ (pg/ml)	62.57±12.15 b	78.77±21.36 a	80.31±17.45 a	69.38±11.17 a	71.63±18.41 a
IL-1β (pg/ml)	1.12±0.281 a	1.19±0.327 a	1.83±0.905 b	1.22±0.317 a	1.14±0.582 a
IL-6 (pg/ml)	14.2±1.1a	11.6±2.3 a	24.7±4.9 b	10.1±5.3 a	12.8±3.5 a
IL-8 (pg/ml)	47.63±9.1a	59.14±5.8a	72.4±12.6 b	54.5±10.9 a	33.4±7.2 c

Clinical and Necropsy Findings in the Infected Fish

After day 5 of the M. salmoniphilum injection, reluctance to feed and disturbances in swimming behaviors were observed in the C+ group and after day 7, skin ulcerations, petechial hemorrhages, and abdominal hemorrhages had occurred (figure 1, 2 and 3).

Figure 1
Clinical symptoms in Russian sturgeon. Skin ulcerations, petechial hemorrhages.

Figure 2
Clinical symptoms in Russian sturgeon. Necrotic areas at the side of the mouth and under the mouth.

Figure 3
Clinical symptoms in Russian sturgeon. Abdominal hemoragies.

Necrotic areas at the ventro-lateral side of the abdomen were observed in the regions close to the injection site. In addition to the white and grayish granules in the heart was detected (figure 4). Dark grey nodules and necrotic areas at the ventro-lateral side of the abdomen were observed in the regions close to the injection site.

Figure 4
Clinical symptoms in Russian sturgeon. The white and grayish granules in the heart.

In addition to the white and grayish granules in the liver and spleen (figure, 5,6).

Figure 5
Clinical symptoms in Russian sturgeon. The white and grayish granules in the liver and spleen.

Figure 6
Clinical symptoms in Russian sturgeon. The white and grayish granules in the liver and spleen.The re-isolation results of M. salmoniphilum revealed that, except for the clinical symptoms, no negative conditions had emerged in the REGs until day 7.

Disease Resistance

In the C+ group, the clinical symptoms of the pathogen aggravated and deaths were observed after day 7. mortality ratios, survival, and relative percent survival (RPS) rates were calculated for the REGs and C+ group (table 7). The highest mortality rate was determined in the C+ group (70.00%), while the R₁₅ group had the lowest mortality rate (36.67%) after 10 days (table 7). The R₁₅ group also had the highest RPS value (47.61%).

Table 7
Mortality rate, survival and relative percentage survival (RPS) of infected A.gueldenstaedtii fed with rosehip at different ratios. C+: positive control, C-: negative control.

	Number of Fish	Mortality	Survival (%)	RPS
Control Groups Rosehip (-)
C+ M. salmoniphilum (+)	30	21 (70.00%)a	9 (30.00%) a	-
C- M. salmoniphilum (-)	30	-		-
Rosehip Experimental Groups (REGs) M.salmoniphilum (+)
R5%	30	21 (70.00%)a	9 (30.00%) a	-
R10	30	14 (46.66%)b	16 (53.34%) b	33.34a
R15	30	11 (36.67%)c	19 (63.33%) c	47.61b

DISCUSSION

The temperature, oxygen, and pH values measured in the tanks were within the limits recommended for the closed-system aquaculture of sturgeon²⁴. In the aquaculture sector and livestock industry, the immunostimulants added to feeds are used to reduce infection-induced mortality and improve the overall performance of the organisms. Immunostimulants are natural or synthetic prophylactic compounds that can be used as alternatives to vaccines and antibiotics. These compounds prevent disease transmission and reduce the mortality rates prior to the outbreak of target diseases. Rosehip is a fruit from the Rosacea family, used by the general public for its therapeutic properties for centuries. Its high vitamin C content is well-known and its seeds are used in fish and bird feeds^3,25. Due to its high vitamin C content, when used as a feed additive, it promotes the healing of wounds and lesions, accelerates the healing process, and can be used for therapeutic purposes. Rosehip has a bactericidal effect on fish, strengthens the immune system, and provides increased resistance to stress because of the antioxidant properties of Vitamin C^26,27. In the study, the infected Russian sturgeons fed with feeds containing different ratios of rosehip were compared with the group fed with the basal feed (C+) and the results revealed that the RBC, Hb, and Hct values were increased in the group fed with feeds with a high rosehip (RH) content (%15 (R₁₅). Lim et al.²⁸, reported that the ascorbic acid in rosehip was effective on the stimulation of erythropoiesis in channel catfish. The researchers also investigated the hematological and biochemical changes in the healthy sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) samples fed with feeds containing commercially-procured vitamin C and E. Compared with the same amount of vitamin E, other researchers determined significant increases especially in the leukocyte levels of the sturgeons fed with 400 mg/kg vitamin C⁴. Correspondingly, our observations indicate that, especially in the group with the highest AA ratio (322.65 mg/kg) (R₁₅), the fish samples had overcome the stress caused by the bacterial pathogen and increased their resistance, which agree with the results obtained in previous studies. Şahan et al.¹⁴, determined increases both in the defense-related hematological parameters and antioxidant enzyme levels of the Y. ruckeri-infected trout fed with rosehip-containing feed with an AA dose of 430 mg/kg. In another study, the feed additives containing naturally obtained vitamin C from vegetables or plants were found to be more effective on immunological and hematological parameters compared with the commercially-procured vitamin C products²⁹.

In addition to affecting the leukocyte levels, ascorbic acid boosts the immune system and improves the resistance of the metabolism to infections. Its high ascorbate concentration and the rapid consumption of ascorbate during an encounter with a pathogen and phagocytosis are the indicators of the importance of vitamin C in the immune system and phagocytosis²⁷. In the study, the feed mixed with 15% rosehip (R₁₅) was the most effective on the WBC, lymphocyte, and monocyte levels in the M. salmoniphilum-infected sturgeon and increases were also observed in the phagocytic activity and defense-related parameters. Similar results were also obtained in a study in which mice were fed with 250-500 mg/kg rosehip-added feeds in addition to the significant increases in the phagocytic activity³⁰. Other studies also investigated the physiological effects of orally-applied active substances (therapeutic or immune system-promoting diets or natural anesthetics, etc.) in different sturgeon species using the hematological parameters that can serve as indicators^31,32. Gülen³³, stated that hematology provided diagnostically and therapeutically important information in the determination of the reference ranges for the hematological parameters of Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baeri). Thus, the researchers recommended combining hematology with other routine diagnostic tools to determine the health status of fish and suggested it as possibly the best health indicator in the evaluation of the stressinducing conditions. In the studies carried out with natural immunostimulant β-glucan, decreases in the mortality rates and about a two-fold increase both in the immune response-related blood cells and phagocytic activity were observed in the oral applications both to the parasite-infected and healthy fish. In our study, most of the results obtained for the health-indicator hematological parameters are in agreement with the results obtained in previous studies on immunostimulants. Şahan and Duman^34,35, stated that natural immunostimulants were safe and cost-friendly and suggested that they can replace the commercially-used medicaments to treat fish diseases. As important indicators of the non-specific immune response, cytokines are immune regulators that regulate immune and inflammatory reactions and attach to the membrane receptors of target cells to induce immune functions^36,37,38. The results obtained in another study showed that TNF-α caused the activation of the macrophages and increased the respiratory activity, phagocytosis, and production of nitric oxide in rainbow trout, turbot, seabream (Sparus aurata), goldfish (Carassius auratus), and catfish, while IL-8 played a role in the activation of T-lymphocytes, neutrophils, and basophiles³⁸. In our study, the comparison with the C+ group showed that there were significant increases both in the TNF-α and interleukin levels of the R₁₅ group. Compared with the other RH groups, the R₁₅ group had a higher level of ascorbic acid (322.65%) and thus, the group had further increased levels of cytokine, which, correspondingly, led to the conclusion that the immune functions of the cells were improved. The similar increases in the leukocyte level, and lymphocyte, monocyte, and neutrophil ratios in addition to the increases in the IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, and IFN-γ levels indicated that the non-specific cellular defense system was stimulated against a bacterial agent. In conformity with the claims of previous studies of the immune activation function of vitamin C, the increases in the TNF-α and interleukin levels agree with the hematological and immune parameters.

The results revealed that non-specific immune response was significantly stimulated in the R₁₅ rosehip group. The group had an ascorbic acid level of 322.65 mg/kg and the stimulation of the defense-related and health indicator hematological parameters was achieved. The 15% rosehip ratio showed antibacterial properties in addition to its contribution to the increases in the RPS ratio and thus, was determined to be the ideal dose of rosehip. As it was the case in other studies on immunostimulants, especially for the intensive aquaculture areas, rosehip is recommended as an alternative to the currently used immunostimulants because of its relatively lower cost compared to the drug applications along with its ability to stimulate non-specific immunity against bacterial agents and induce resistance to stress.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

This study was supported by Çukurova University Scientific Research Projects Unit. Project Number: FBA-2017-7715. Main author: Dr. Selçuk DUMAN

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  2018

History

• Received
  07 June 2018
• Accepted
  22 Aug 2018