Effects of Pediococcus pentosaceus as a probiotic on intestinal microbiota and body composition of Siberian sturgeon, Acipenser baerii Brandt, 1869

An eight-week experiment was carried out to determine the effects of dietary Pediococcus pentosaceus as probiotic on the body composition and gut microbiota of Siberian sturgeon, Acipenser baerii. A total of 180 fish with mean body weight of 143±0.01g were randomly distributed into 12 200L fiberglass tanks as four treatments with three replicates, including groups fed with diet containing 2×107, 2×108 and 2×109 CFU g-1 of P. pentosaceus and probiotic-free as control group. Body composition of treatment groups was not influenced by P. pentosaceus except for fat and moisture. The bacteria had a significant colonization in the intestine of fish fed with supplemented diet with P. pentosaceus. High level of acid lactic bacterial load was found in the treatment fed with highest amount of the probiotic i.e. 2×109 CFU g-1. The results showed that application of P. pentosaceus has positive effect on the body composition and intestinal microflora of the A. baerii.