Phagocytic changes in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) following administration of immunostimulants Quil-A and Levamisole

In this research Quil-A and levamisole as immunostimulants were used both by immersion route (Quil-A, 40 mg/L and levamisole, 50 mg/L) and oral route (Quil-A 5, 10 mg and levamisole 20, 40mg) in common carp (Cyprinus carpio)(mean weight ~80g) daily for 20 days. After twenty days of treatment with immunostimulants, stained heat killed Candida albicans and Bacillus cereus were injected intravenously via caudal vein. Two hours after injection, blood and kidney tissue samples were collected. Phagocytosis rate of blood and kidney smears were studied using Gimsa staining. Results showed that phagocytosis of Candida albicans cells by blood leukocytes in immersion groups into 40mg/L and 50 mg/L levamisole and orally used 5 and 10 mg Quil-A groups were significantly increased in comparison with the control group. While fish given 20 mg levamisole orally did not show a significant difference with control group and phagocytosis in 40mg levamisole by oral administration was suppressed as showed significant difference with control and other groups. Phagocytosis of Bacillus cereus cells showed similar results to the Candida albicans cells. Phagocytosis rate in kidney tissue was also stimulated in all groups except for 20 and 40mg levamisole groups presumably due to immunosuppressive effect of high levamisole rate.