Phenotypical parameters as a tool to evaluate the immunostimulatory effects of laminarin in Oncorhynchus mykiss

Laminarin is a β‐glucan from the brown algae Laminaria digitata (J.V. Lamour), which can activate innate immune responses. With the aim of developing a strategy to evaluate specific phenotypical parameters of the effects of laminarin in trout innate immunity, we (i) fed fish with laminarin‐supplemented diet (0.2 g kg^?1 day^?1) for 21 days and (ii) treated fish with a single dose of intraperitoneal injected laminarin (0.08 g kg^?1 fish). The evaluation of cellular and humoral immune parameters was established at phenotypic level by the phagocytic activity of headkidney macrophages and detection of inflammatory cytokines in head kidney and gill tissue by indirect ELISA. Results showed that both delivery methods of laminarin produce an increase in the phagocytic activity in head kidney macrophages and a significant increase in the production of TNFα and IL‐8 in gill tissue at day 21. Additionally, some of these parameters were significantly correlated (P < 0.025), which places them as new potential combined markers to detect activation of trout defense mechanisms by laminarin. These results highlight the importance of developing new protocols to quantitate immune parameters, in order to evaluate immunostimulants in fish farming.