A simple way of using prebiotic towards sustainable shrimp aquaculture practice

Abstract

Shrimp farming that has experienced rapid growth globally faces significant economic challenges due to frequent disease outbreaks. In the absence of a fully developed immune system, immune enhancement shows the only option for reducing disease susceptibility. Prebiotics foster the growth of beneficial gut bacteria and play a key role in gut metabolism contributing to the immune enhancement. In the present study, inulin coated feed was used as a candidate prebiotic to study the effect on the growth, disease resistance, immune gene expression, and gut microbial diversity of Litopenaeus vannamei. Three concentrations of inulin was used coated to the normal basal feed (T1: 5 g/kg, T2: 10 g/kg, and T3: 20 g/kg) and compared with the control group (with no inulin) during a course of 30 days. Relatively, higher growth was observed in all the experimental groups. Significant (P < 0.05) higher growth was observed with dosages of T2 and T3 feed than T1 feed group. Higher expression of selected immune genes were also observed in experimental groups. A prolonged period of protection in the experimental animals was observed when challenged with white spot syndrome virus while there was strong protection against Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Metagenomics analysis showed that the gut microbiota of experimental animals had a higher abundance of beneficial bacteria and diversity than that found in the control group. This study showed a convenient method of inulin coating onto the feed gave better growth and disease resistance in shrimp, which could provide a more economical and profitable.