Effects of dietary prebiotic GroBiotic^®-A on growth performance, plasma thyroid hormones and mucosal immunity of great sturgeon,Huso huso(Linnaeus, 1758)

Abstract

SummaryThe present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Grobiotic ® -A, a commercial prebiotics, when administered in feed on the growth performance, plasma thyroid hormones and mucosal immunity of great sturgeon (Huso huso). The commercial prebiotic mixture was supplemented in the diets at four different levels (i.e. 0.0% as control, 0.5%, 1% and 2%, in three replicates, 20 fish per replicate) and fed to the fish for an 8-week period wherein 240 fish were cultured in 1,800-L fiberglass tanks that formed part of a flow-through system. Water temperature was maintained at 20.4 ± 1.5°C.Significant changes in growth performance parameters were observed, but only in those groups fed with 1% and 2% prebiotics. Specifically, marked improvements relative to the control group were observed in percentage weight gain, body weight gain, feed conversion ratio and specific growth rate in prebiotic-fed fish. The levels of plasma thyroid hormones, specifically thyroxine and thyroid stimulating hormones were significantly elevated in the group receiving 2% prebiotics. Activities of lysozyme and alkaline phosphatase in skin mucus were significantly enhanced in prebiotics-fed groups, particularly at an inclusion level of 1% and higher (2% group compared to the control). Inhibitory activity of the skin mucus against pathogens, particularly Streptococcus iniae and Yersinia ruckeri, was significantly improved following prebiotic feeding. Taken together, dietary inclusion of GroBiotic ® -A promoted growth, modulated thyroid hormones, and enhanced mucosal immunity of H. huso. This prebiotic mixture has the potential for use in improving the growth performance and health status of farmed great sturgeon.

The effects of prebiotics on growth performance and in vitro immune biomarkers in weaned pigs1

“…Increase in ADFI in GS fed pigs was observed during days 28 to 35 (13.48%) and days 0 to 35 (11.26%). These improvements in growth and feed intake were similarly reported in studies in fish ( Sealey et al, 2007 ; Zheng et al, 2011 ; Adel et al, 2016 ; Wang et al, 2016 ; Adel et al, 2017 ) which demonstrated that the inclusion of GS at 1 to 2% in diets of juvenile Nile tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus ), starry flounder ( Platichthys stellatus ), and sturgeon ( Huso huso Linnaeus, 1754) increased weight gain during an 8-wk experiment by as much as 32.80%, 17.37%, and 41.45%, respectively. Effects of GS on growth, feed intake, and feed efficiency have been attributed by researchers to proliferation of beneficial microbes and their metabolites ( Sealey et al, 2015 ; Adel et al, 2017 ).…”

“…The IL-8 and IL-10 secretions from PBMC isolated from GS fed animals were comparable to those fed CL and was numerically greater than the animals given the Control diet. Effects of GS supplementation on immunity had been reported in studies with juvenile fish such as red drum, Nile tilapia, starry flounder, and sturgeon ( Buentello dro et al, 2010 ; Zheng et al, 2011 ; Adel et al, 2016 ; Wang et al, 2016 ; Adel et al, 2017 ). In these studies, nonspecific markers of immunity such as blood lysozyme activities, serum total protein, total Ig concentrations, plasma catalase, neutrophil oxidative production, and superoxide dismutase activity were increased by inclusion of GS (1–2%) in the diet.…”

“…In these studies, nonspecific markers of immunity such as blood lysozyme activities, serum total protein, total Ig concentrations, plasma catalase, neutrophil oxidative production, and superoxide dismutase activity were increased by inclusion of GS (1–2%) in the diet. Moreover, increased survivability in fish challenged with bacteria such as Streptococcus iniae, Yersinia ruckeri, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli ( Adel et al, 2016 ), and Aeromonas hydrophila ( Zheng et al, 2011 ) or parasite infection such as Amyloodinium ocellatum ( Buentello et al, 2010 ) was also observed with GS feeding.…”

The Gut Microbiota of Marine Fish

“…Contrarily to probiotics, prebiotics do not introduce novel microbiota into the intestinal tract, but rather are defined as ‘substrates that are selectively used by host microorganisms conferring a health benefit’ ( Gibson et al, 2017 ). As a result, these indigestible food ingredients have been shown to enhance immune response ( Torrecillas et al, 2007 ), improve nutrient uptake ( Bongers and van den Heuvel, 2003 ) and increase growth and feed conversion ratios ( Adel et al, 2016 ). There are also fewer difficulties compared to probiotics in successfully administering these supplements.…”

Effects of the prebiotic mannan-oligosaccharide on feed deprived zebrafish: Growth and reproduction

“…Dietary supplementation with MOS increased serum T3 and T4 levels of crucian carp ( Carassius auratus gibelio ) under Aeromonas hydrophila infection (Liu et al., ). Recently, Adel, Nayak, Lazado and Yeganeh () found that dietary prebiotic GroBiotic ® elevated the levels of plasma thyroid hormones, specifically thyroxine and thyroid stimulating hormones in great sturgeon, Huso huso . However, it is well documented in fish that starvation decreases the levels of THs (De Pedro et al., ; Power, Melo, & Santos, ; Reddy & Leatherland, ).…”