Correlation of duration of β-1,3/1,6-glucan administration with the effectiveness of immune stimulation in juvenile vimba bream (Vimba vimba)

Barbara Kazuń; Krzysztof Kazuń; Joanna Małaczewska; Rafał Kaminski; Justyna Sikorska; Jacek Wolnicki

doi:10.2478/jvetres-2026-0023

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Correlation of duration of β-1,3/1,6-glucan administration with the effectiveness of immune stimulation in juvenile vimba bream (Vimba vimba)

Journal of Veterinary Research

Volume 70 (2026): Issue 2 (June 2026)

By: Barbara Kazuń , Krzysztof Kazuń , Joanna Małaczewska , Rafał Kaminski , Justyna Sikorska and Jacek Wolnicki

Open Access

|Apr 2026

Abstract

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to determine how the duration of administration of β-glucans derived from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae modifies cellular immunity in one-year-old leuciscids, specifically vimba bream (Vimba vimba).

Material and Methods

The effects of two treatments were compared at three endpoints using a 2 × 3 factorial design, all groups in triplicate aquaria (n = 3). Kept in controlled recirculating aquaculture system conditions, three experimental groups were fed for two, four or eight weeks a commercial starter feed, and three other groups received the same feed supplemented with a commercial formulation of β-glucan polysaccharides from the cell wall of Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast at 0.02%. Results for fish taking β-glucan were compared to the respective control groups of fish not given it.

Results

Two-week administration of β-glucan in the diet resulted in significantly higher pinocytosis, respiratory burst activity and potential killing activity of head-kidney phagocytes in supplemented fish compared to phagocytic activities in fish not receiving β-glucan. However, in the groups receiving β-glucan for four and eight weeks, this activity was significantly lower than in the respective control groups. After eight weeks, T-lymphocyte activity was also lower.

Conclusion

Under controlled recirculating aquaculture system conditions favourable for fish growth, the most beneficial effect of dietary β-glucan supplementation on vimba bream immune cells appears after two weeks. Extension of this period to four or eight weeks loses beneficial effects, and even significantly decreases some immune parameters. This finding is critical for animal nutrition, where glucans or their sources are increasingly used as permanent components of feed.

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Articles in this issue

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jvetres-2026-0023 | Journal eISSN: 2450-8608

Journal RSS Feed

Language: English

Page range: 227 - 232

Submitted on: Jul 9, 2025

Accepted on: Apr 16, 2026

Published on: Apr 18, 2026

Published by: National Veterinary Research Institute in Pulawy

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

Keywords:

aquaculture,

β-glucan,

fish,

innate immunity,

time-dependent effects

Related subjects:

Microbiology and virology,

Life sciences,

Life sciences, other

© 2026 Barbara Kazuń, Krzysztof Kazuń, Joanna Małaczewska, Rafał Kaminski, Justyna Sikorska, Jacek Wolnicki, published by National Veterinary Research Institute in Pulawy
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Volume 70 (2026): Issue 2 (June 2026)