Abstract
In the present study, the potential synergism between beneficial lactic acid bacteria (Pediococcus acidilactici) contained in a probiotic and a mixture of fermentable complex carbohydrates and autolyzed brewer's yeast (or prebiotic) were explored in red drum. Four experimental diets were formulated from practical ingredients, and the basal diet was supplemented with either probiotic, prebiotic, or both supplements. Red drum juveniles (~5.5 g) were offered the four experimental diets for 56 days, and at the end of the feeding trial fish fed diets supplemented with probiotic had significantly better weight gain than those fed the non-supplemented diets, and higher protein content in their whole-body composition. Transient intestinal microbiome alpha and beta diversity were significantly affected by the dietary treatments. Interestingly, a higher relative abundance of the lactic acid genus Pediococcus was observed for fish fed diets supplemented with the prebiotic. A higher relative abundance was also observed for the predicted functions of the microbial metagenome, and many of these pathways involved the biosynthesis of essential amino acids, vitamins, and nucleotides. Even though no potential synergistic effect was observed, the individual inclusion of these prebiotic and probiotic supplements positively affected the intestinal health and growth performance of red drum, respectively.