Use of garlic, Allium sativum, to control Aeromonas hydrophila infection in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum)

Garlc, Allium sativum, which was fed at 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 g per 100 g of feed for 14 days to rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), led to control of experimental infection with Aeromonas hydrophila. At doses of 0.5 and 1.0 g garlic per 100 g of feed, there was a reduction in mortalities to 4% compared with the controls (88%). Moreover, there was a significant increase in growth, feed conversion and protein efficiency. There was stimulation of the number of erythrocytes and leucocytes, a significantly higher haematocrit, enhancement of phagocytic activity, respiratory burst, lysozyme, anti-protease and bactericidal activities following feeding with garlic. © 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.