The intestinal histopathology, innate immune response and antioxidant capacity of blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala) in response to Aeromonas hydrophila

The present study was performed to determine the effects of Aeromonas hydrophila infection on intestinal -histopathology, innate immune response and changes in antioxidant capacity of blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala). A series of histopathological changes, innate immune enzyme activities, antioxidant enzyme activities, and the corresponding mRNA relative genes expressions in intestines were measured at 0, 1, 2, and 3 weeks post-treatment of Aeromonas hydrophila (1✕107 CFU mL−1) infection. The results showed that Aeromonas hydrophila induced changes in intestinal morphology, including the decreased muscularis thickness, the proliferated goblet cells, and the atrophied intestine villi height. Moreover, the innate immune enzymes activities in serum such as acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, lysozyme activities and immunoglobulin M were significantly reduced after infection at 1week, 2week and 3week. The contents of complement 3 and complement 4 were significantly decreased after infection as well. In addition, the antioxidant enzymes activities, including superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase in the experimental groups were significantly decreased compared with the control group, whereas the content of malondialdehyde was significantly increased after infection at 1week, 2week and 3week. Furthermore, the mRNA relative expressions of the inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukins-1β, interferon-γ, and interleukins-6 were significantly increased after infection with Aeromonas hydrophila. The TJ-related gene expressions in the intestine of zonula occluden-1, occludin, occludin-1, occludin-2 were significantly reduced throughout the infection period. The mRNA relative expressions of signal transducers and activators of transcription 4 and janus kinase-3 in the intestine were significantly ascended compared with the non-infected group. Overall, the results elucidated that the intestine tissue injury and innate immune response reduction, as well as antioxidant capacity attenuation were occurred against Aeromonas hydrophila infection of the blunt snout bream. •Aeromonas hydrophila induced intestinal tissue damage of blunt snout bream.•Aeromonas hydrophila decreased innate immune response of blunt snout bream.•Aeromonas hydrophila declined antioxidant capacity of blunt snout bream.•Aeromonas hydrophila damaged the intestinal barrier immune function by regulating the JAK/STAT signaling pathway.