Combined effects of Pediococcus acidi lactici and natuzyme on growth performance, hematology and immunity indices in juvenile beluga (Huso huso)

Abstract

The present study was performed to compare the combined and individual effects of Pediococcus acidi lactici (PB) and natuzyme (a cocktail of protease, lipase as well as non-starch polysaccharidases) on the immune response and growth performance parameters of the juvenile beluga (Huso huso). To prepare the treatment diets, the basal diet was supplemented with either the exogenous natuzyme (at 0, 0.25 and 0.5 g kg−1), PB (at 0% and 0.1%) or both of them. The six treatments were assigned to triplicate groups and the feeding trial lasted for two months. The results showed that PB treatment constrained the positive effect of EN (especially at the higher dose) on the FCR and final weight. However, IGF and GH expression not only increased following either PB or EN inclusion, but also, their simultaneous addition promoted their individual effects. Together, higher level of GH and IGF mRNA levels in this study was not associated with a significant growth enhancement, this can be due to the fact that more time should be considered to display their effects. In the light of these results, we recommend that the combined use of probiotics and exogenous enzymes especially at the higher dose can be inhibitory.