Dietary Levamisole as Immunostimulant for Striped Surubim, Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum

Abstract Immunostimulants are better suited for disease control than using drugs and chemicals as remedies in animal production. This study evaluates effects of dietary levamisole on growth and immunological parameters response of Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum. A trial was set up in a completely randomized design with six treatments – 0.0, 50, 100, 200, 300, and 500 mg levamisole per kg of feed (n = 3) – fed until apparent satiation, twice a day, for 60 d to striped surubim (77.68 ± 2.5 g) randomly stocked in 18 plastic tanks (300 L; 10 fish per tank). Dietary levamisole affected lysozyme activity and concentration, the best effects were recorded for fish fed 247 mg levamisole per kg of feed, that is, levamisole positively influenced innate immune system of striped surubim. However, dietary levamisole did not affect serum protein, albumin and globulins, as well as leukocyte respiratory burst activity and leukocyte proliferation. No differences in growth parameters were recorded. Dietary levamisole improved immunological responses of striped surubim.