Fucoidan effectively provokes the innate immunity of white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei and its resistance against experimental Vibrio alginolyticus infection

In this study, we examined the effect of fucoidan on the immune response of white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei and its resistance against Vibrio alginolyticus infection. Fucoidan induced degranulation, caused changes in the cell morphology, and increased activation of prophenoloxidase (proPO) and the production of superoxide anions in vitro. Shrimp that received fucoidan via immersion at 100, 200, and 400 mg l−1 after 3 h showed haemocyte proliferation and a higher mitotic index of haematopoietic tissue. In another experiment, the haemocyte count, phenoloxidase (PO) activity, and respiratory bursts (RBs) were examined after the shrimp had been fed diets containing fucoidan at 0 (control), 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 g kg−1 for 7–21 days. Results indicated that these parameters directly increased with time. The immune parameters of shrimp fed the 1.0 g kg−1 diet were significantly higher than those of shrimp fed the 2.0 g kg−1 diet after 14 and 21 days. Phagocytic activity and the clearance efficiency against V. alginolyticus were significantly higher in shrimp fed the 1.0 g kg−1 diet compared to those of shrimp fed the 0, 0.5 and 2.0 g kg−1 diets. In a separate experiment, shrimp that had been fed diets containing fucoidan for 21 days were challenged with V. alginolyticus at 106 colony-forming units shrimp−1. Survival rates of shrimp fed the 1.0 and 2.0 g kg−1 diets were significantly higher than those of shrimp fed the 0 and 0.5 g kg−1 diets for 96–120 h. We concluded that fucoidan provokes innate immunity of shrimp as evidenced by haemocyte degranulation, proPO activation, and the mitotic index of haematopoietic tissue, and that dietary administration of fucoidan at 1.0 g kg−1 enhanced the immune response of shrimp and their resistance against V. alginolyticus infection.

► Fucoidan induced degranulation, caused haemocyte size change, increased activation of proPO.
► Shrimp received fucoidan showed haemocyte proliferation and higher mitotic index of HPT.
► Immune parameters of shrimp that fed fucoidan-containing diet at 1.0 g kg−1 increased.
► PA and CE to Vibrio increased in shrimp that fed fuoidan-containing diet at 1.0 g kg−1.
► Fucoidan provokes innate immunity of shrimp, and could be added for dietary administration.