Study shows mycelium boosts disease resistance in Atlantic salmon

MycoFence® β-glucan enhances disease resistance in Atlantic salmon

New research reveals that β-glucan from Aspergillus niger mycelium, branded as Mycofence®, significantly enhances disease resistance in Atlantic salmon, outperforming commercial yeast β-glucan in combating ulcerative diseases.

MycoFence® is an organic immunity booster that’s rich in high-quality beta. Derived from mycelium, it’s an eco-friendly and sustainable resource.

“Our research clearly demonstrates that MycoFence®, a novel β-glucan derived from Aspergillus niger, significantly improves the immune response and survival rates of Atlantic salmon during ulcerative disease outbreaks,” said Dr. Fabio Zanuzzo, lead researcher. “These findings provide a promising alternative to commercial yeast β-glucan and can greatly benefit aquaculture practices.”

Onda, a prominent contract research organization specializing in aquatic animal health, unveiled the groundbreaking research findings in partnership with Citribel, a Belgian producer of citric acid and mycelium. The study involved feeding Atlantic salmon with diets containing different levels of MycoFence® and commercial yeast β-glucan. Following a five-week feeding phase, the fish underwent an immersion challenge with T. maritimum or M. viscosa. Growth performance, mortality rates, lesion scores, hematology and immune markers were analyzed.

Findings reveal that salmon fed with Mycofence® exhibited significantly higher survival rates compared to those fed with commercial yeast-derived β-glucan, with no difference from the control group. Mycofence® also triggered a notable up-regulation of the cr3 transcript, essential for immune response and β-glucan recognition, shedding light on its enhanced disease resistance mechanisms.

Further, the results show MycoFence® reduced mortality from T. maritimum infections by 42.6 percent and from M. viscosa outbreaks by 31 percent, outperforming the commercial yeast β-glucan. Importantly, Mycofence® did not affect the salmon’s growth performance, with no significant differences in weight or growth between diet groups.

@GSA_Advocate