Research Article: The effects of four types of specific probiotic on growth performance, liver enzymes and immune indices of juvenile Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus)

In the present study, the effects of specific and native probiotics were examined on growth factors, liver enzyme indices, and immunity of Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus) in the juvenile stage. Three hundred juvenile Persian sturgeon with a mean weight of ۹۲.۵±۰.۵ g fed with ۴ different diets (۳ replicates for each) were in ۵۰۰-l fiberglass tanks (۲۵ fish per tank) for ۸ weeks. Treatments included: ۰ (control), ۱.۵×۱۰۷ (treatment ۱), ۳×۱۰۷ (treatment ۲) and ۴.۵×۱۰۷ (treatment ۳) CFU kg-۱ specific probiotic per kg of feed. At the end of the experiment, the results indicated that there were remarkable differences between treatments, in terms of condition factor, food conversion ratio, specific growth rate, and weight gain percentage compared to the control group (p<۰.۰۵). In addition, no mortality was observed in probiotic-treated groups. There was no significant difference between probiotic and control groups in liver enzymes included ALT, AST, ALP, and LDH (p>۰.۰۵). IgM and lysozyme were significantly higher in probiotic-fed groups compared to the control group (p<۰.۰۵). Overall, the results indicated that growth factors, biochemical and immunity indicators of fish fed with diet containing specific probiotic and mainly treatment ۲ (۳×۱۰۷ CFU kg-۱) were in the acceptable condition in comparison to the control group.