The effect of dietary honey prebiotic on microbiota diversity in the digestive tract of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and its growth performance

Prebiotic administration is one method to increase growth performance, improve intestinal microbiota composition, inhibit pathogen growth and induce immunity in fishes. Honey consists of oligosaccharides as the major content that can be used as a prebiotic. This study investigated the effects of administration of dietary prebiotic from honey at different doses on growth performance, digestive enzyme activities, intestinal microvilli, short-chain fatty acid contents and microbiota diversity in the digestive tract of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Four diet treatments were applied, namely control (without honey administration) and honey administration at 0.25%, 0.5% and 1% doses (g/kg diet). Nile tilapia weighing 20 +/- 1.72 g were reared with these diet treatments for 30 days. Results demonstrated that honey prebiotic administration could increase growth performance; provide a lower feed conversion ratio; induce digestive enzyme activities (amylase, protease and lipase); increase microvilli length, perimeter ratio, density of intestinal microvilli and short-chain fatty acid contents (propionate, iso butyrate, iso-valerate and N-valerate); and improve microbiota diversity in the digestive tract of Nile tilapia at the best dietary dose of 1%.