Effects of a Chinese Herbal Compound on Growth Performance,Non-specific Immune Response and Disease Resistance of Chinese Mitten-handed Crab Eriocheirsinensis

In a feeding trial,the effects of a Chinese herbal compound on growth performance,non-specific immune response and disease resistance were investigated in Chinese mitten-handed crab Eriocheir sinensis with body weight of(6.76±0.1)g at water temperature of 23.5—28.5 ℃.The crab was reared in 24 tanks of each 100 cm × 50 cm × 50 cm at a stocking density of 30 individuals per tank and fed diets containing Chinese herbal compound at a rate of 0%(control group),0.1%,0.5%,1.0%,1.5% and2.0% for 60 days with four replicates per group.Except 0.1% group,there were significantly higher weight gain and specific growth rate in the crab in the treatment groups than those in the control group(P0.05).In the 1.0% group,the crab had the maximal phagocytosis percentage and phagocytic index in the blood cells and activities of superoxide dismutase(SOD),peroxidase(POD)and catalase in the serum and hepatopancreas,significantly higher than those in the other groups(P0.05).The activities of the serum acid phosphatase(ACP)were found to be significantly higher among the treatment groups except in0.1% and 2.0% groups.There were significant differences in activities of serum alkaline phosphatase(AKP)between the 0.5%,1.0% and 1.5% groups and the control group(P0.05).The activities of serum and hepatopancreas lysozymes(LSZ)were first found to be increased and then decreased with increase in dietary Chinese herbal compound,significantly higher than those in the control group(P0.05).Hepatopancreas malondialdehyde(MDA)content was decreased with increase in the dietary Chinese herbal compound.The 15 dchallenge with Aeromonas hydrophila revealed that the mortality rates were significantly decreased in the treatment groups than that in the control group except in 0.1%group(P0.05),and the immune protective rate was increased with the elevated dietary Chinese herbal compound.In conclusion,the diet containing 1.0% Chinese herbal compound leads to improve the growth performance,non-specific immune response and disease resistance of Chinese mitten-handed crab.