Effects of dietary mannan oligosaccharide on the growth, survival, intestinal morphometry and nonspecific immune response for Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens Regan, 1910) larvae

A 28-day experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of dietary prebiotic mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) on the growth, survival, intestinal morphometry and nonspecific immune response of the Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens Regan, 1910) larvae. The MOS supplementation levels evaluated was: 0, 2, 4 and 6 g kg(-1). Into 16 plastic aquaria (3 L) 240 larvae (4.21 +/- 0.26 mm) were distributed at a density of 5 larvae L-1. All larvae received live food for seven days, followed by a period of eight days of co-feeding (live food + inert diet) and, finally, 13 days of inert diet. At the end of feeding-trial, there were no significant differences between growth, survival, intestinal morphometry and alkaline phosphatase activity of larvae fed the control or MOS supplemented diets. However, the lysozyme activity in larvae fed 2 g MOS kg(-1) was significantly higher compared to other treatments. For fish farming, the most beneficial effects of prebiotics reside in its ability to enhance the immune system of fish. In this context, this study revealed that, although the MOS supplementation has no effect on growth, survival and intestinal morphometry, 2 g MOS kg(-1) supplementation for B. splendens larvae hint at a possible immunomodulatory effect, as evidenced by the increase in lysozyme activity.