The effect of dietary saccharoculture on growth performance, non-specific immunity and autochthonous gut microbiota of gibel carp Carassius auratus

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a commercial fermented yeast product (Saccharoculture, Veterinary Pharmaceuticals, Korea), on the growth performance, non-specifc immunity and autochthonous intestinal microbiota of gibel carp Carassius auratus. Following an eight week feeding trial the growth performance and serum non-specifc immunity of fish fed one of four treatments (A: control group, B: 2 g/kg Saccharoculture, C: 3 g/kg Saccharoculture or D: 2 g/kg Saccharoculture + 0.1 g/kg favomycin) was measured. Additionally, the predominant autochthonous intestinal microbiota was analyzed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). The results indicated that dietary supplementation of Saccharoculture or Saccharoculture combined with favomycin signifcantly improved fnal weight, weight gain (WG), special growth rate (SGR) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to the control group (P < 0.05), and the best growth performance was obtained in group B. However, the non-specifc immunity factors were not signifcantly affected by dietary yeast or favomycin (P > 0.05). Compared to the control group, fish fed dietary yeast exhibited modulated intestinal bacterial communities. Levels of some bacteria were elevated by dietary Saccharoculture, such as, Acinetobacter sp. (FR749840.1, FJ646641.1), Escherichia vulneris (HQ259947.1) and Cetobacterium somerae (AB353124.1). Cetobacterium sp. (HM778168.1) and Lactococcus lactis subsp. (EF589778.1) were suppressed in the Saccharoculture with favomycin group. However, Nevskia sp. (AB426558.1) was suppressed by the higher level Saccharoculture or Saccharoculture and favomycin combination. © 2011 He S, et al.