Effectiveness of single and combined use of selected dietary probiotic and prebiotics on growth and intestinal conditions of striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus, Sauvage, 1978) juvenile

Single or combined effect of yeast, galactooligosaccharide (GOS), mannanoligosaccharide (MOS), and β-glucan was evaluated on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, digestive enzyme activities, intestinal morphology, and microbiota of striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) juveniles. Triplicate groups of striped catfish (15.85 ± 0.29 g) were fed twice per day at 3% of body weight for 12 weeks, with 0 (control), 1% yeast, 1% GOS, 0.4% MOS, 0.1% β-glucan, 1% yeast + 1% GOS (YGOS), 1% yeast + 0.4% MOS (YMOS), and 1% yeast + 0.1% β-glucan (YβG). With the exception of 1% yeast, the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, protease activity, and villi length were significantly improved (P < 0.05) in all the supplemented diets over the control fed group. Results also revealed that 1% GOS and YβG significantly improved the final weight and specific growth rate (SGR) over all the remaining treatments. A significant increase in amylase activity was only observed in fish fed with 1% GOS-, YMOS-, and YβG-supplemented diets compared to the control. A total of eleven bacterial phyla were identified from the intestine of striped catfish and Firmicutes was the most dominant phylum found in all the fish fed with supplemented diets. The results suggest that administration of 1% GOS and YβG afforded the best growth performance, nutrient digestibility, digestive enzyme activities, intestinal morphology, and microbiota of striped catfish juveniles.