Vitamin C Alleviates Intestinal Inflammation Caused by Aeromonas hydrophila in Juvenile Blunt Snout Bream (Megalobrama amblycephala)

Vitamin C (VC) can be used to increase disease resistance in practice in intensive aquaculture. But it is still unconfirmed whether VC could alleviate inflammation and what dosage is suitable. This study investigated the effects of dietary VC on the immunity and enteritis of juvenile blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala) challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila. The fish were fed with VC levels ranging from 25.35 to 2231.98 mg/kg for 60 days. After that, fish fed with 150.65 mg/kg, 573.79 mg/kg, and 2231.98 mg/kg VC were challenged with A. hydrophila orally to simulate enteritis. The results showed that 285.39 and 573.79 mg/kg dietary VC significant improved growth performance and feed utilization. Dietary VC (573.79 and 1133.79 mg/kg) significantly enhanced the serum immune parameters, antioxidant enzymes’ activities, and relative gene expressions of ikbα and cat in the liver in the 60-day feeding trail. The survival rate was significantly higher in 573.79 mg/kg dietary VC group than the other two treatments. Cytokines were activated after the bacteria challenge. Dietary 573.79 mg/kg VC caused significantly higher TNF-α level at 12 hpi and maintained a high level of IL-8 at 48 to 72 h compared to other treatments. In conclusion, more than 500 mg/kg VC was needed to maintain the health of blunt snout bream juveniles. Suitable VC would activate cytokines to increase disease resistance along with antioxidant enzymes.