Effect of dietary A-Max supplementation as a prebiotic on growth performance and hemato- immunological parameters of great sturgeon (Huso huso Linnaeus, 1758) juveniles

    An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary commercial prebiotic A-Max, a mixture of mannan oligosaccharides, fructo oligosaccharides and β glucan, on growth and hemato-immunological parameters of great sturgeon (Huso huso) juveniles. After acclimation, fish (initial weight of 28.79±0.85 g) were placed into 12 tanks (30 fish per tank). Basal diet (containing 44% protein and 20% lipid) were supplemented with 0 (control), 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 g kg-1 A-Max in a totally randomized design trial in triplicate groups. At the end of the trial, growth factors and haemato-immunological parameters were assessed. Fish fed 1.5 g kg-1 prebiotic mixture displayed higher growth performances and feed efficiency compared to the control group (P>0.05). There were no significant differences in survival rate among all treatment groups (P>0.05). The results showed that RBC, WBC, lymphocyte, neutrophil, haematocrit and total protein (P