Effectiveness of kepok banana stem extract (Musa Acuminata) on the immune response of catfish (Clarias gariepinus) infected with Aeromonas hydrophila

Catfish have high economic value, fast growth, and are easy to cultivate. This is the reason why catfish cultivation
is increasing. However, there are still obstacles in the cultivation process, namely the threat of disease, one of
which is the Motile Aeromonas Septicaemia (MAS) disease caused by Aeromonas hydrophila bacteria. The
countermeasure can be done by using active compounds found in plants, including banana stems. This study
aimed to determine the effectiveness of giving banana stem extract to carp culture media and treating A. hydrophila
disease. This research used an experiment with a completely randomized design. The treatments tested were the
addition of banana stem extract at a dose of 5% (treatment A), 10% (treatment B), 15% (treatment C), and
antibiotics (treatment K-), and without extract treatment (treatment K+). Each treatment was repeated three
times. The results showed that the administration of banana stem extract significantly affected the fish's
erythrocytes, leukocytes, and blood glucose. Leukocyte differential observation showed that kepok banana stem
extract had a significant effect on eosinophils, lymphocytes, and neutrophils but no significant effect on
monocytes. In analyzing fish blood, the optimal values were 7.64±0.190a cells/mm3 for leukocytes, 3.60±0.116d
cells/mm3 for erythrocytes, 65±6.028b mg/dl for glucose, 74.67±0.577d% for lymphocytes, 5.67±0.577a% for
neutrophils, and 0±0a% for eosinophils. The results indicate that treatment B with 10% kepok banana stem
extract was the most effective in administering the extract to catfish infected with A. hydrophila bacteria.