Study on design and efficacy of a self-formulated traditional Chinese medicine compound against Aeromonas veronii

QIAO Qingmei; CHENG Maogao; GUO Guojun; ZHENG Ying; ZHAO Shikun; SU Ruili

doi:10.13557/j.cnki.issn1002-2813.2025.11.018

Abstract：This study aimed to screen Chinese herbs with strong antibacterial effects against fish-derived Aeromonas veronii and identify their optimal compatibility combinations,as well as evaluate the prevention and treatment efficacy of a self-designed traditional Chinese medicine compound against Aeromonas veronii infection.The Oxford cup method was used for preliminary screening of 32 herbs,and the minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC)and minimum bactericidal concentration(MBC)of highly sensitive herbs were determined.Five herbs with the strongest inhibitory and bactericidal effects were selected for orthogonal testing to optimize the best compatibility combination.Subsequently,Qi-tonifying herbs were added to the optimal combination to design a new traditional Chinese medicine compound.A total of 140 koi carp(65.0±5.0)g were acclimatized for seven days and randomly divided into seven groups:The blank control,infection control,and five dose groups(1,5,10,20,40 g/kg).On the 8th day,all groups except the blank control(injected with sterile saline)were challenged with Aeromonas veronii.During the 7-day trial,the blank and infection control groups were fed a basal diet,while the dose groups received medicated feed containing the traditional Chinese medicine compound.Results showed that 19 herbs,including Lycium chinense,Portulaca oleracea,and Rheum palmatum,exhibited high sensitivity to Aeromonas veronii.The five most effective herbs were Rhus chinensis gallnut,Scutellaria baicalensis,Schisandra chinensis,Prunus mume,and Sanguisorba officinalis.The optimal compatibility ratio was determined as Sanguisorba officinalis∶Scutellaria baicalensis∶Schisandra chinensis∶Rhus chinensis gallnut∶Prunus mume=4∶3∶4∶1∶2.During the 7-day post-challenge period,the infection control group had 11 deaths(55％ mortality),while the 1 and 5 g/kg dose groups showed 10％(two deaths,81.8％ protection rate)and 15％ mortality(three deaths,72.7％ protection rate),respectively.No deaths occurred in the 10,20,and 40 g/kg dose groups,achieving 100.0％ protection.The study shows that the self-formulated traditional Chinese medicine compound at doses of 10,20,and 40 g/kg significantly alleviated clinical symptoms,shortened disease duration,and provided 100.0％protection against Aeromonas veronii infection in koi carp,with 20 g/kg identified as the most cost-effective dose.