The Combined Use of and Fructooligosaccharide Improves Growth Performance, Immune Response, and Resistance of Whiteleg Shrimp Against .

In this study, we evaluated the effect of probiotic bacteria supplemented at different inclusion levels in a control diet [basal diet containing 0.5% fructooligosaccharide (FOS)] on the growth performance, feed conversion ratio, immune response, and the disease resistance of whiteleg shrimp juveniles against . A control diet with 0.5% FOS but without supplementation (Control) was prepared. In addition, three other test diets were also formulated: control diet supplemented with at (i) 1 × 10 cfu g diet (P1), (ii) 1 × 10 cfu g diet (P2), or (iii) 1 × 10 cfu g diet (P3). After a 60-day feeding trial, the experimental shrimps were challenged with The results showed that dietary supplementation of significantly improved the growth performance and immune responses of juveniles. The juveniles that were fed with a P2 or P3 diet recorded the maximum increase in the final body weight, final length, weight gain, and survival rate. The total hemocyte counts, phenoloxidase, and lysozyme activity of shrimp fed with either of these two diets were significantly enhanced. The results also showed that juveniles fed with a P2 or P3 diet exhibited significantly lower mortality when challenged with . Overall results suggested that a combination of at the inclusion level of 1 × 10 cfu g diet (P2) and 0.5% FOS could be considered as a potential synbiotic formulation for improving the growth, health, and robustness of .