Work

Effects of two postbiotics (yeast culture and complex probiotics) on growth performance, body composition, liver and intestinal health, and fillet quality of rice field eel (Monopterus albus)

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This study explored effects of yeast culture (YC) and complex probiotics (CP) on the growth performance, liver-intestinal health and fillet quality of rice field eel ( Monopterus albus ). 1200 healthy fish with initial weight (23.04 ± 0.04) g were selected and randomly divided into 5 groups (4 replies per group): control group, 0.3 % YC group, 0.6 % YC group, 0.3 % CP group and 0.6 % CP group. Results of 56-d experiment showed that postbiotics could significantly increase final body weight (FBW), weight gain rate (WGR), specific growth rate (SGR) and reduced feed conversion rate (FCR) ( P < 0.05). Dietary postbiotics reduced the total lipid content in liver ( P < 0.05), increased protein deposition in whole body and muscle ( P < 0.05). Dietary postbiotics also improved liver and intestinal antioxidant ability (total superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione) ( P < 0.05), immune function (serum acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase and liver lysozyme activities) ( P < 0.05), and intestinal digestive ability (α-amylase, trypsin) ( P < 0.05). Meanwhile, dietary postbiotics significantly enhanced intestinal villi height and mucosal barrier integrity ( P < 0.05). High-throughput sequencing revealed that, intestinal microbial probiotics (Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes) abundance increased and pathogenic (Proteobacteria) abundance decreased in the postbiotic-treating group ( P < 0.05). It is worth noting that dietary postbiotics could improve muscle quality ( P < 0.05), reduce muscle fibers area and diameter ( P < 0.05), and promote protein deposition ( P < 0.05). In summary, dietary postbiotics can show beneficial effects on growth, liver and intestinal health, and muscle quality in this fish. • Dietary postbiotics (PBT) increased growth performance and protein contents in body. • PBT reduced lipid contents and improved antioxidant and immune activities in liver. • PBT improved intestinal digestive and antioxidant capacity, and mucosal integrity. • PBT regulated intestinal microbiota and permeability. • PBT promoted protein deposition in muscle and enhanced muscle texture properties.

Source: Aquaculture Reports

DOI: 10.1016/j.aqrep.2026.103414