EFFECTS OF EUCALYPTUS GLOBULES LABILL ESSENTIAL OIL ON SOME IMMUNOLOGICAL VARIABLES OF COMMON CARP (CYPRINUS CARPIO)

Influence of both dietary and bath administration of Eucalyptus globules labill was evaluated on some immunological variables of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) under temperature less than optimum in order to determine stimulatory effect of the essential oils. Fish weighing 30-35 g were bathed or fed with different doses of 30, 60 and 120 |m|l/L or mg/kg feed for a period of 8 days. Serum lysozyme activity, bactericidal activity, total white blood cells, total protein, globulin and albumin were measured on days 1, 2, 8, 15 and 23 after the essential oils administration. On day 23 post administration the remaining fish from each group were intraperitonealy injected with killed Aeromonas hydrophila (6×108cells/ml) and antibody titer was measured 3 weeks later. The obtained results showed that Eucalyptus globules had a limited immunostimulatory effect on these immunological variables although antibody titers and total white blood cells in some test groups were significantly (p<0.05) higher than the control one. The reduction of the immunological factors is probably related to the lower water temperature, inappropriate administrating dose and duration of essential oils administration.