1Ezzat M. Awad and 2Osman A. Osman
Departments of 1Zoology
and 2Chemistry (Biochemistry),
Faculty of science,
Aeromonas hydrophila is increasingly recognized as a pathogen of
man that gives rise to both intestinal and extraintestinal
infection. This study examined the effect of one the immunostimulants;
fungal cell-wall b-1, 3-D-glucan (Laminarin) on the immune
response to Aeromonas hydrophila
in albino rats. Intraperitoneal injection of 0.2 ml
of 1% laminarin (15 mg/100 g b.wt)
stimulated humoral immunity. On the ninth day, after application of laminarin in vivo, a statistically higher value of
total Ig (p < 0.05) was
observed. At the same time, serum total immunoglobulins
(25.5±2) g/L in bacterial
groups were significantly higher (p <0.05),
compared to the control group (17±2) g/L. For Aeromonas infected group, all
Ig classes showed increase statistically significant
(p<0.05). On the other hand laminarin
groups exhibited reduced values of Ig subclasses but
still higher than control values. This was reported for all time period. Rats
were divided into 3 equal groups designated, Aeromonas
infected, Laminarin-treated and control groups.
Infection was carrid out by intraperitoneal
injection of 2x106 bacteria daily for 6 days.