Efficacy of dietary curcumin supplementation as bactericidal for silver catfish against Streptococcus agalactiae

• Published in: Microbial pathogenesis Vol. 116; pp. 237 - 240
• Main Authors: Baldissera, Matheus D., Souza, Carine F., Zeppenfeld, Carla C., Descovi, Sharine, Machado, Vanessa S., Santos, Roberto C.V., Baldisserotto, Bernardo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2018
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - administration & dosage; Antibiotics resistance; Catfishes; Curcumin - administration & dosage; Dietary Supplements; Disease resistance; Fish disease; Fish Diseases - drug therapy; Fish Diseases - microbiology; Fish Diseases - prevention & control; Pathogenesis; Polyphenol; Streptococcal Infections - drug therapy; Streptococcal Infections - microbiology; Streptococcal Infections - prevention & control; Streptococcal Infections - veterinary; Streptococcus agalactiae - drug effects; Treatment Outcome; Disease resistance; Polyphenol; Fish disease; Pathogenesis; Antibiotics resistance
• ISSN: 0882-4010; 1096-1208
• DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2018.01.044

The antibiotics were frequently used for combating bacterial infections in aquaculture, but this treatment causes antibiotic resistance, negative impact on the environment and on health, and accumulation of residual in edible tissues. Several evidences have considered the dietary supplementation with natural products an interesting alternative to antibiotics, as the use of curcumin, a polyphenol with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate whether fish fed with a diet containing 150 mg curcumin/kg feed is able to enhance the resistance of silver catfish to Streptococcus agalactiae infection. Our results demonstrated that curcumin dietary supplement exerts potent bactericidal action against S. agalactiae, presenting 100% of therapeutic efficacy when compared to infected and non-supplemented animals. Also, the treatment prevented the occurrence of clinical signs of disease, as erratic swimming, corneal opacity, skin lesions in the fin and tail, and loss of appetite. In summary, curcumin can be a promising dietary supplement for improving disease resistance. •Curcumin enhance the resistance of silver catfish to Streptococcus agalactiae.•Curcumin prevent the occurrence of clinical signs of disease.•Curcumin can be a promising dietary supplement for improving disease resistance.