The impact of multistrain probiotics (Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Lactococcus lactis) on African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) gut microbiota, immunological response, and growth performance

Assel Paritova^1*Altay Ussenbayev¹Rauan Abdessan²Zhenisgul Seitkaliyevna Asauova^1*Gulnur Berikovna Kuzembekova³Gulzhan Omarbekova^3*Aiken Sansyzbaevna Karabassova⁴Aigul Jenisbekkyzy Kassen⁴Zhuldyzay Kenzhebekova³Gulmira Alibayevna Abulgazimova¹Aruzhan Saingaliyeva¹

• ¹S.Seifullin Kazakh AgroTechnical Research University, Astana, Kazakhstan
• ²Nortwest A&F University, Yangling, China
• ³Kazak National Agrarian Research University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
• ⁴LLP Kazakh Scientific Research Veterinary Institute, Almaty, Kazakhstan

Around the world, aquaculture is acknowledged as a quick way to boost economic expansion and livelihood security. However, the aquaculture sector has not yet fulfilled the anticipated demand because of poor input quality and subpar culture technology. Probiotic administration can be used as a dietary tactic to improve fish development and immunological function. The purpose of this study was to assess how the growth performance, immunity, and gut microbiota of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) were affected by multiple-strain dietary probiotics Leuconostoc mesenteroides and Lactococcus lactis. Fish were fed both a basal and an experimental diet, supplemented by both L. mesenteroides and L.lactis bacteria at 10 6 cell/g for 8 weeks. The administration of a mixture of L. mesenteroides and L.lactis led to marked enhancements in feed utilization metrics, alternative complement pathway activity, intestinal lactic acid bacteria population, mucus secretion, and peroxidase activity relative to the control groups (P < 0.05).Serum lysozyme activity shown a notable increase in the L.mesenteroides and L. lactis dietary group relative to the control group. Moreover, African catfish that consumed a diet supplemented with L. mesenteroides and L.lactis exhibited superior growth performance measures (weight gain, final weight, and specific growth rate) in comparison to those fed the control diet (P < 0.05).Additionally, superoxide dismutase activity was considerably enhanced in the L. mesenteroides and L. lactis groups compared to the control group (P < 0.05). These findings strongly suggest that a dietary combination of L.mesenteroides and L.lactis probiotics could be an effective immunostimulant feed supplement in African catfish farming.