Phytotherapy of ulcerative dermatitis induced by Aeromonas hydrophila infection in goldfish ( Carassius auratus )

Abstract

Goldfish ( Carassius auratus ) weighing 13 ± 2 g were administered intramuscularly a sublethal dose (1.8 × 10 3 cfu/ml) of Aeromonas hydrophila to induce ulcerative dermatitis. On day 3 and day 6 after infection the fish were dip-treated (for 5 min/day) with a tri-herbal concoction of Curcuma longa, Ocimum sanctum and Azadirachta indica (1%). The LD 50 value was recorded at a concentration of 2.3 × 10 4 between 30 and 36 days after infection. In the infected untreated group the cumulative mortality was higher, while in the early-treated group (day 3) there was no mortality. In the late-treated group (6th day) the mortality increased to 23.3% on day 36. In the infected group the size of ulcers progressively increased from 43.3% of the body length on day 18 to 86.7% on day 36. In the early-treated fish the size of ulcers was 23.3% of the body length on day 18; by day 36 after treatment the ulcer had completely healed. In contrast, there was only a moderate recovery in the late-treated group. From the results it can be concluded that early tri-herbal treatment ensures successful recovery from ulcerative dermatitis induced by A. hydrophila .