Effect of dietary A-Max supplementation as a prebiotic on growth performance and hemato- immunological parameters of great sturgeon (Huso huso Linnaeus, ۱۷۵۸) juveniles

An ۸-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary commercial prebiotic A-Max, a mixture of mannan oligosaccharides, fructo oligosaccharides and β glucan, on growth and hemato-immunological parameters of great sturgeon (Huso huso) juveniles. After acclimation, fish (initial weight of ۲۸.۷۹±۰.۸۵ g) were placed into ۱۲ tanks (۳۰ fish per tank). Fish were fed a basal diet (containing ۴۴% protein and ۲۰% lipid) supplemented with ۰ (control), ۰.۵, ۱.۰ and ۱.۵ g kg-۱ A-Max in a totally randomized design in triplicate groups. At the end of the trial, growth factors and haemato-immunological parameters were assessed. Fish fed ۱.۵ g kg-۱ prebiotic mixture displayed higher growth performances and feed efficiency compared to the control group (p>۰.۰۵). There were no significant differences in survival rate among all treatment groups (p>۰.۰۵). The results showed that RBC, WBC, lymphocyte, neutrophil, haematocrit and total protein were significantly affected by ۱.۵ g kg-۱ dietary prebiotic mixture (p<۰.۰۵). An elevation of monocyte and haemoglobin (p>۰.۰۵) was found in the fish fed diet containing ۱.۰ g kg-۱ prebiotic. In addition fish fed the diet with ۱.۵ g kg-۱ prebiotic mixture showed a significant increase in lyzosyme activity, respiratory burst activity, serum total immunoglobulin (Ig) and alternative complement activity (ACH۵۰) (p<۰.۰۵) compared with those fed the diets supplemented with other levels of prebiotics. The results showed that the addition of ۱.۵ g kg-۱ prebiotic mixture to the diet of great sturgeon juveniles improving growth performance, some haematological parameters and immune response and seemed to be an effective immunostimulant.     

Keywords:

Prebiotic mixture , Growth , Hematology , Immune response , Great sturgeon (Huso huso)