Zanthoxylum piperitum-supplemented Diet Enhances Disease Resistance in Epinephelus bruneus against Vibrio carchariae

Abstract

We studied the effects of diet supplemented with 0% (control), 0.1%, 1.0% and 2.0% Zanthoxylum piperitum on the immune response and disease resistance in kelp grouper Epinephelus bruneus against Vibrio carchariae. The phagocytic and lysozyme activities were significantly enhanced in fish fed with diets supplemented with 1.0% and 2.0% Z. piperitum. The cumulative mortality of fish fed with 1.0% and 2.0% supplemented diets was lower than that of the controls. Therefore, it was suggested that diets supplemented with 1.0% and 2.0% Z. piperitum positively enhanced the innate immune system in E. bruneus against V. carchariae.