The Effect of Majapahit Leaf Powder (Crescentia cujete L.) on the Immune Response and Survival Rate of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Infected with Aeromonas hydrophila
Keywords:
Crescentia cujete, Oreochromis niloticus, Aeromonas hydrophila, phagocytosis, immunostimulantAbstract
Motile Aeromonas Septicemia (MAS) caused by Aeromonas hydrophila is a major bacterial disease in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) aquaculture, leading to significant economic losses. This study investigated the immunostimulatory effects of majapahit leaf (Crescentia cujete L.) powder on the survival rate and phagocytic activity of infected fish. A completely randomized design (CRD) was employed with four treatments and three replications: A (7.5% leaf powder), B (10%), C (12.5%), and O (0% as control). A total of 120 fish (average weight 15±2 g) were acclimatized for 7 days before being infected intraperitoneally with A. hydrophila at a lethal dose of 10⁷ CFU/mL. Herbal supplementation was administered via feed for 14 days post-infection. Data on surviva l rate (SR) and phagocytosis index were analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) followed by the Least Significant Difference (LSD) test at 95% and 99% confidence levels. The results showed that treatment C (12.5%) yielded the highest survival rate (83.33%) and phagocytosis index, which was significantly different (p<0.05) from treatments A and B. The study concludes that C. cujete leaf powder at a dose of 12.5% in feed effectively enhances the non - specific immune response and survival of O. niloticus against A. hydrophila infection.
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