Protective effect of sodium alginates against bacterial infection in common carp, Cyprinus carpio L.

A hot‐water extract of Undaria pinnatifida was found to contain polysaccharide(s) which showed immunostimulating activity in fish. In order to identify the effective component(s), the hot‐water extract was fractionated and acid‐soluble (Fraction I) and acid‐insoluble (Fraction II) polysaccharides were evaluated for their potential to enhance protection against Edwardsiella tarda infection in common carp. Intraperitoneal injection of Fraction II in carp 6 and 3 days prior to challenge with E. tarda resulted in a significantly greater survival rate than that of control fish at doses of 10–30mgkg‐1. On the other hand, Fraction I was not effective at any dose. Chemical and physicochemical analyses revealed that Fraction II was sodium alginate with a high degree of purity, with a molecular weight of 45000 and an M/G ratio of 0.8. Some commercial alginates were similarly evaluated for their efficacy. Alginates from Macrocystis pyrifera (MW, 146000‐264000; M/G ratio, 0.9–1.0) significantly increased survival rate, but alginates from Lessonia nigrescens (MW, 177000–290000; M/G ratio, 1.3) had little effect. There are indications that the efficacy (protective effect) of alginates has some relationship to their M/G ratios.