Increases in immune parameters by inulin and Bacillus subtilis dietary administration to gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.) did not correlate with disease resistance to Photobacterium damselae

The present work evaluates the effects of inulin and Bacillus subtilis, single or combined, on immune parameters, immune-related gene expression and protection against Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata). Three trials were conducted. In the first trial, different concentrations of inulin (10, 15 and 30 g kg−1) (as a prebiotic) were administered to determine the optimal concentration for stimulating the seabream's immune system. In the second trial, the optimum concentration of inulin (10 g kg−1) was combined with B. subtilis (as a probiotic). Following two and four weeks of the treatment, the main immune parameters, as well as the expression of seven immune-related genes, were measured. In the final trial, fish fed the same diet as in the second trial were challenged intraperitoneally with P. damselae subsp. piscicida (109 cfu g−1). Treatment groups for the second and third trial were control (non-supplemented diet), inulin (10 g kg−1), B. subtilis (107 cfu g−1) and inulin + B. subtilis (10 g kg−1 and 107 cfu g−1 respectively). Dietary administration of inulin or B. subtilis for two weeks stimulated the serum complement activity and the IgM level, as well as leucocyte phagocytic activity; furthermore, inulin stimulated leucocyte respiratory burst activity. When inulin and B. subtilis were administered together (as a synbiotic), only the serum complement activity and the IgM level increased in a statistically significant manner. Furthermore, the complement activity showed a significant increase in fish fed the three experimental diets for four weeks. The challenge experiment showed that the fish fed inulin or the synbiotic diet had non-significantly lower or significantly higher cumulative mortality, respectively, compared with the control group (non-supplemented diet). These results suggest that inulin and B. subtilis modulate the immune response of the gilthead seabream, although the combined administration increases susceptibility to infection by P. damselae subsp. piscicida.

► Effect of inulin and Bacillus subtilis on immune parameters and gene expression.
► Experimental diets stimulated some immune parameters.
► No effect on gene expression was observed.
► No effect on survival of seabream to the challenge with Photobacterium damselae.