The potency of dietary β 1,3 1,6 glucan (BG), derived from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, in stimulating the non-specific
immunity of white Indian shrimp, Fennerpenaeus indicus (Milne-Edwards, 1837) and improving its resistance to white spot
syndrome disease were investigated. F. indicus (11.32±1.20 g) were fed for 20 days on a series of treatment diets containing
graded levels of BG (blank control, 0 as control, 2, 10, 20 g kg-1 feed) and were then challenged by injection of WSSV virus.
Total haemocyte count (THC), total plasma protein (TPP), phagocytic activity (PA) and Bacterial Clearance activity (BC)
were measured at days 0, 7, 14, 21 after BG feeding, and shrimp survival rate was also recorded daily after challenge. THC,
TPP, PA and BC of the 10 and 20 g kg-1 BG treatments were significantly higher (P<0.05) by day 14 than control and 2 g kg-
1 treatment shrimp. Survival rate of shrimp fed with the diet containing 10 and 20 g kg-1 BG after 21 days, were 53.32±5.77
and 48.32±5.77%, respectively. Accordingly, oral administration of BG at an optimal level of 10 g kg-1 diet for 20 days efficaciously
stimulate the immune defense and improve the survival rate of WSV-infected F. indicus.
