Effect of Graded Levels of Dietary Emamectin Benzoate on Immunity, Enzyme Activity, and Withdrawal Period in Labeo rohita Juveniles (Hamilton, 1822)

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary emamectin benzoate (EB) levels on immune responses, serum enzyme activities, and retention of EB in muscle tissue to establish the withdrawal period in rohu, Labeo rohita juveniles (avg. wt. 18 & PLUSMN;0.11 g). To ascertain this, 450 healthy L. rohita juveniles were fed with EB in graded doses viz., at 50 (1x), 125 (2.5x), 250 (5x), and 375 (7.5x) mu g kg(-1) of fish biomass day(-1), respectively, in triplicate for 21 days through a basal feed. Upon completion of 21 days, the same experimental fish were fed with basal feed (without EB) for another 14 days to measure the retention of EB in the muscle tissue. Each 7-day interval, five fish were randomly sampled. The results showed that respiratory burst activity, myeloperoxidase activity, bacterial haemagglutination, and haemolysis activities were improved significantly (p < 0.05) in 1x and 2.5x dose fed group from 7(th) day onwards until 14(th) day. Few selected enzyme activities viz., LDH and ALP were found to be significantly (p < 0.05) high in the fish fed with EB at 5x and 7.5x dose compared to 1x. The LC-MS/MS study of the experimental fish discloses that EB was retained in muscle tissue at a dose-dependent manner and significantly (p < 0.05) lowest level (0.341 & PLUSMN;0.03 ppb) was retained in the fish fed with 1x dose of EB. Hence, 1x dose of EB may be adhered to treat L. rohita juveniles through feed with 14 days of withdrawal period.