Fructooligosaccharide and Bacillus subtilis synbiotic combination promoted disease resistance, but not growth performance, is additive in fish.

Species diversification from major to minor carps for their sturdiness and initial higher growth, and also a quest for antibiotic-free aqua farming in the subcontinent, mandates search for and evaluation of alternatives. An experiment was performed to investigate the potential of fructooligosaccharide (FOS) and Bacillus subtilis (BS) (alone or as synbiotics) in promoting growth and immunity against infections in Labeo fimbriatus fingerlings. Six iso-nitrogenous and iso-lipidic diets containing combinations of two levels of FOS (0% and 0.5%) and three levels of BS (0, 104, 106 CFU/g feed) were fed to fish for 60 days. At the end of the feeding trial, twenty-four fish from each group were injected intra-peritoneally with pathogenic strain of Aeromonas hydrophila O:18 to test the immunoprotective efficacy of the supplements against bacterial infection. BS, but not FOS, significantly improved (P < 0.05) growth and feed utilisation attributes like percentage weight gain (PWG), specific growth rate (SGR) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). There were interactive effects of FOS and BS on PWG, SGR and FCR; however, the effects were not additive in nature. These beneficial effects of BS, alone or in combination with FOS, were corroborated by increased protease activity, microvilli density and diameter and number of goblet cells. Overall beneficial effects of FOS and BS included improved erythrocyte (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb), total protein and globulin levels. Total leucocyte (WBC) count and immunological parameters like respiratory burst activity of leucocytes (NBT reduction), lysozyme activity, albumin: globulin ratio and post-challenge survival were significantly improved by both FOS and BS, and their dietary combination yielded the highest improvement in these parameters. Synergistic effects of FOS and BS as dietary supplements indicate that a combination of 106 CFU/g BS and 0.5% FOS is optimal to improve growth, feed utilisation, immune functions, and disease resistance in L. fimbriatus fingerlings.

Utilization of fish protein isolates to supplement oat-based cookies and assessment of end product quality.

Bullseye and Pacu fish processing waste were valorized through its conversion into functional protein isolates, followed by the utilization of recovered proteins to supplement oat-based cookies at different levels (0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 g/100 g) and baking temperatures (100, 150, 170, 180, 190 ˚C). With different replacement ratios and baking temperatures, the best selection was made at (4 and 6%) and baking temperatures (160 and 170 ˚C) for BPI (Bullseye protein isolate) and PPI (Pacu protein isolate) based cookies, respectively based on sensory and textural characteristics. The developed products were analyzed for its nutritional, physical, textural, and sensory quality. No significant differences were found in the moisture and ash contents of the cookies from different lots, while the protein content was highest for cookies with 6% PPI. The spread ratio was lower reported for the control cookies compared to the fish protein isolate-based counterpart (p < 0.05), and it decreased with increasing thickness of cookies. Significantly higher total essential amino acid values were obtained in cookies supplemented with 6% Pacu protein isolates, whereas 4% Bullseye protein isolate-supplemented cookies were higher in total non-essential amino acid content. The total plate count was higher in control cookies (0.35 ± 0.33 cfu/g) compared to fish protein isolate-supplemented cookies. The hardness values were maximum for control group cookies (19.14 ± 0.98 N) compared to protein isolate incorporated cookies (17.22 ± 1.05 N and 16.26 ± 0.9 N). However, the difference among the all-treatment group is not significant (p > 0.05).