Effects of dietary organic acid and Apple cider vinegar on hepatopancreatic integrity, and gut microflora of the Litopenaeus vannamei

The objectives of this study, was to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation of Apple cider vinegar and propionic acid on histology of the hepatopancreas, total hemocyte count and intestinal microbiota of the Litopenaeus vannamei. In this study two hundred twenty-five Litopenaeus vannamei with an average initial weight of 10.2 ± 0.04 g, that they were fed diets supplemented with of Apple cider vingar and propionic acid after 60 days. Treatments included levels of 0, 1% Apple cider vinegar and 0.5% propionic acid diets. Shrimp were randomly sampled at the end of the experiment. The results indicated that, shrimp fed supplemental diets had significantly higher total hemocyte count (p < 0.05). no significant differences in blister cells were observed among treatments (p > 0.05), whereas the number of the resorptive cells significantly decreased in shrimp fed a diets containing Apple cider vinegar and propionic acid and a dramatic decrease was observed in Apple cider vinegar treatment (p < 0.05). The results indicated the tubule diameter in the hepatopancreas was significantly decreased in shrimp fed diet propionic acid. Total viable bacterial counts in the intestine of shrimp fed Apple cider vinegar and propionic acid diets were significantly lower compared to control group (p < 0.05). These findings indicate that the Apple cider vinegar was introducing suitable organic acid alternative and also it has the greatest potential for use as a diet supplement for L. vannamei.