Single or combined effects of dietary arabinoxylan-oligosaccharide and inulin on growth performance, gut microbiota, and immune response in Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei

The single and synergistic effects of dietary arabinoxylan-oligosaccharide (AXOS) and inulin at different doses (2, 4, and 8 mg/g diet) on survival, growth performance, gut microbiota, and immune response in Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei were assessed. Singular application of either inulin or AXOS at doses of 4 mg/g diet showed the most stimulatory effects on the growth rate and gene expression levels of chitinase, cathepsin L, chymotrypsin, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in each single prebiotic feeding trial. Compared with single prebiotic treatments, simultaneous application of AXOS and inulin at 4 mg/g diet enhanced remarkably the growth parameters of shrimp and the expression of related genes (chitinase, cathepsin L, chymotrypsin, ERK, myeloid differentiation factor 88, and phenoloxidase) after 8-week feeding (P <0.05). Additionally, gut microbiota analysis indicated the dietary supplementation with combined prebiotics increased significantly the bacterial community richness and relative abundance of Bacillus Pseudomonas Bacteriovorax, and Lactobacillus, and reduced the abundance of Vibrio Rhodococcus, and Photobacterium in the digestive tract of L vannamei. Compared with the single prebiotic treatment and the control, combined prebiotics supplementation boosted notably the survival rate and expression levels of immune-related genes in shrimp infected with Vibrio alginolyticus or white spot syndrome virus. Therefore, simultaneous application of AXOS and inulin shall have a great potential of dietary supplement in the culture of L. vannamei