Effects of dietary β – 1,3 – glucan on the growth, survival, physiological and immune response of marron, Cherax tenuimanus (smith, 1912)

Abstract

Six isonitrogenous and isocalorific diets supplemented with five different levels of beta –1,3 – glucan (0.08%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.4% and 0.8%) were formulated and tested for marron ( Cherax tenuimanus) growth, survival, organosomatic indices, osmoregulatory capacity and immunological parameters (total and differential haemocyte counts, haemolymph clotting time and bacteraemia). The sixth diet without any beta – 1,3 – glucan was used as a control. Each diet was provided to 18 marron (0.47 ± 0.02 g initial weight) replicated 3 times in individual 250 L fiberglass cylindrical tanks. Each tank was provided with a biological filtration recirculating water system. After 84 days of culture, the survival and yield were higher in the marron fed 0.1% beta glucan supplemented diet. The different levels of beta glucan did not alter any of the physiological parameters of marron. However, dietary supplementation with beta glucan resulted in significantly higher ( P < 0.05) total haemocyte count (THC) and granular cells. The bacteraemia rank was lower in all diets having beta glucan supplemented with more than or equal to 0.1% compared to the control and 0.08% beta glucan supplemented diets. Results suggest that dietary beta – 1,3 – glucan at a minimum concentration of 0.1–0.2% can improve the immune system of marron.