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Dietary vitamin C, immunity and disease resistance in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

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Abstract

Presmolt Atlantic salmon were fed a fish meal based experimental diet supplemented with graded levels of ascorbate-2-monophosphate (AP), equivalent to 40, 400, 2000 and 4000 mg ascorbic acid (AA)/kg for 6 months prior to a bacterial challenge experiment. The liver AA concentration reflected the dietary intake of AP, but not linearly. Growth, hematology and acid phosphatase activity in zymosan stimulated macrophages were not affected by dietary AP. Serum hemolytic complement activity was higher in fish fed the highest AP level, but the variation was not significant. Production of specific antibodies was significantly higher in fish fed the highest AP level 11 and 17 weeks after vaccination. Bacterial challenge with Aeromonas salmonicida showed increased survival in the 4000 AP group. Lysozyme activity in headkidney and serum complement activity and serum iron in fish surviving the challenge were higher in the 4000 AP group, indicating important roles of vitamin C on lysozyme, complement and iron in non-specific disease resistance. The results indicate that high dietary levels of AP favourably affect health in Atlantic salmon. Disease resistance was, however, not correlated with the AA status in the liver.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Nutrition, Directorate of Fisheries, P.O. Box 1900, N-5024, Bergen, Norway

    Rune Waagbø & Kjartan Sandnes

  2. Institute of Marine Research, Division of Aquaculture, P.O. Box 1870, N-5024, Bergen, Norway

    Johan Glette

  3. University of Bergen, Centre of Biotechnology, N-5020, Bergen, Norway

    Espen Raa-Nilsen

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  1. Rune Waagbø
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  2. Johan Glette
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  3. Espen Raa-Nilsen
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  4. Kjartan Sandnes
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Waagbø, R., Glette, J., Raa-Nilsen, E. et al. Dietary vitamin C, immunity and disease resistance in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Fish Physiol Biochem 12, 61–73 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00004323

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