The effects of dietary Betaplus®and TechnoMos®on growth performance, blood parameters, and intestinal microflora in juvenile kutum,Rutilus kutum(Kamensky, 1901)

Abstract

The main goal of the current study was to assess the combined effects of a dietary probiotic Betaplus and prebiotic TechnoMos on growth performance, blood biochemical parameters, and intestinal microflora in juvenile Rutilus kutum. Four experimental diets were prepared with the addition of Betaplus and/or TechnoMos to a basal diet for R. kutum juveniles. The diets were randomly assigned to one of 12 tanks, with three replications per diet. The results showed that supplementation of both pro- and prebiotic, separately or in combination, improved fish growth parameters (p < .05). These additives also reduced fish mortality rates, either alone or in combination (p < .05). Protein content of the carcass increased by an addition of Betaplus (p < .05), but Betaplus supplementation reduced the fat content of the carcass (p < .05). Bacillus leicheniformis and B. subtilis counts were elevated by the addition of Betaplus and TechnoMos, with even a larger bacterial count observed in fish fed a mixed diet of pro- and prebiotics (p < .05). White blood cell counts increased with both pro- and prebiotic supplementations. Glucose and cortisol levels significantly decreased with the administration of Betaplus and TechnoMos, and the mixed treatment showed the lowest estimate of these parameters (p < .05). In conclusion, a better performance of juvenile R. kutum fed a diet mixture of Betaplus and TechnoMos is probably related to the elevation of Lactobacillus counts in the fish gut, which improves the digestive performance.