The influence of dietary β‐1,3‐glucan on growth performance, feed utilization, antioxidative and immune status of Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei

Abstract

Prebiotics, that is, β-1,3-glucans are widely used immunostimulants in aquaculture. A 70-day feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary β-1,3-glucan on growth performance, feed utilization, antioxidative and immune status of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). Six iso-energetic and iso-nitrogenous diets with dietary β-1,3-glucan levels at 0, 0.04, 0.08. 0.16, 0.32 and 0.64 g kg−1 were fed to six replicates of shrimp (initial mean weight 0.98 ± 0.02 g). The diet with 0.16 g kg−1 β-1,3-glucan significantly improved weight gain and decreased feed conversion ratio of the shrimp. Compared with shrimp fed the basal diet, protein efficiency ratio was significantly higher in the β-1,3-glucan supplemented groups. Hepatopancreatic amylase activity was significantly increased by the β-1,3-glucan supplementation. The 0.16 g kg−1 β-1,3-glucan supplemented diet significantly improved serum total superoxide dismutase activity. The lowest hepatopancreatic malondialdehyde content was observed in the 0.64 g kg−1 β-1,3-glucan group. This study suggested that appropriate inclusion level of β-1,3-glucan can improve the growth performance, feed utilization and improve the antioxidative capacity of Pacific white shrimp, with optimum supplemental level being about 0.156 g kg−1 based on the weight gain in our results.