Dietary Cirsium arvense Essential Oil Enhances Immunity and Disease Resistance in Rainbow Trout

Document Type : Original Articles

Authors

1 Department of Veterinary Medicine, RUDN University, Moscow, Russia.

2 All-Russian Research Institute of Integrated Fish Farming - a branch of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution “Federal Research Center for Animal Husbandry named after Academy Member L. K. Ernst” (L. K. Ernst Federal Research Center for Animal Husbandry), Moscow, Russia.

10.32598/ijvm.20.1.1005623

Abstract

Background: Fish diseases are among the main challenges in the aquaculture industry. Feed additives are promising agents to control fish diseases by improving their innate immunity. 
Objectives: The present study was conducted to assess the effects of dietary supplementation with Cirsium arvense essential oil (CAEO) on immunological responses and disease resistance in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss.
Methods: The fish (mean weight: 31.31±0.15 g) were fed diets containing 0 (Cont), 2 (CAEO2), 4 (CAEO4) and 6 (CAEO6) mL/kg CAEO for 60 days at a daily ration of 5% of biomass (n=3), followed by an experimental infection by Yersinia ruckeri. 
Results: After 60 days of rearing, dietary CAEO significantly increased serum total protein, total immunoglobulin (Ig), lysozyme, alternative complement (ACH50), respiratory burst activity (measured by nitroblue tetrazolium [NBT] test), skin mucus lysozyme, protease, total Ig, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Dietary CAEO significantly decreased post-challenge mortality; Cont, CAEO2, CAEO4, and CAEO6 showed 100%, 58%, 68%, and 48% post-challenge mortalities, respectively. The highest total Ig, NBT, ACH50, mucus protease, and ALP, and post-challenge survival were observed in CAEO6 treatment; whereas, the highest serum total protein, mucus lysozyme, and total Ig were observed in CAEO4 and CAEO6 treatments. Serum lysozyme significantly increased in all CAEO-treated fish.
Conclusion: CAEO can be used as a feed additive for the aquaculture of rainbow trout, as it improves immunity and disease resistance of the fish at a concentration of 6 mL/kg.

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Iranian Journal of Veterinary Medicine
Volume 20, Issue 1
January 2026
Pages 167-174

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