Dietary mannanoligosaccharide (MOS) from commercial product, Bio-Mos supplementation, has been examined for its effects on weight gain and feed conversion of domestic mammals and birds, but very few studies have evaluated the responses of aquacultural species to MOS. A feeding and digestibility trial was performed to asses the potential beneficial effect of two levels of Bio-Mos on growth, feed utilization, survival rate and nutrientsÕ digestion of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) with an initial average weight of 170 g. Bio-Mos was added at 2 or 4 g kg )1 to a fish mealbased control diet, and each diet was fed to triplicate groups of 1-year-old gilthead sea bream. After 12 weeks, there were no differences in survival rate among fish fed experimental diets (P > 0.05). It was observed that a significant improvability existed for both growth and feed utilization in fish fed diets supplemented with Bio-Mos (P < 0.05). Body proximate composition remained unaffected by Bio-Mos supplementation in fish fed experimental diets (P > 0.05). Apparent digestibility values for protein, carbohydrate and energy were appreciably affected by the inclusion of two different levels of Bio-Mos, only lipid digestibility was the exception. In conclusion, the results of this trial indicate that 2 g kg )1 dietary supplementation with BIO-MOS seem to be most positive for gilthead sea bream production. KEY WORDS

A feeding trial was performed to assess the potential beneficial effect of two levels of mannanoligosaccarides (MOS) on the growth performance, feed utilization, hematological parameters, and liver histopathology of gilthead seabream Sparus auratus (also known as gilthead bream). Mannanoligosaccarides were added at the rates of 2 and 4 g/kg to a fish-meal-based control diet, and each diet was given (twice daily [midmorning and midafternoon] to apparent satiation) to triplicate groups of gilthead seabream growers (mean weight = approximately 170 g) in sea cages. The trial lasted 12 weeks, and the average ambient water temperature ranged from 19.6 degrees C to 24.7 degrees C during the experimental period. At the end of the experiment, fish attained market size (350-450 g) and their health status was evaluated by blood analysis and liver histology. There were no differences in survival rates among fish fed experimental diets. However, there were significant improvements in both growth and feed utilization among fish fed diets supplemented with MOS. Hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (Ht) levels and erythrocyte, leukocyte, and thrombocyte (Thr) counts were unaffected by any dietary MOS. The levels of Hb (g/dL; mean +/- SD) and Ht (%; mean +/- SD) were 11.0 +/- 2.5 and 45.6 +/- 6.7 for the control group, 11.1 +/- 1.7 and 39.3 +/- 8.0 for the 2-g/kg group, and 11.2 +/- 1.9 and 40.2 +/- 8.4 for the 4-g/kg group. The mean Thr count ranged from 47.6 to 53.8 x 10(3)/mm3. Despite the apparently higher Thr counts for fish fed diets supplemented with MOS, these differences were not significant. Moreover, no histopathological differences were observed in liver tissue cross sections between control and treatment groups. These results suggest that supplementation of diets with MOS had no significant effects on general fish health.