This study investigated the dose-dependent effects of a 1:1 mixture of Pediococcus acidilactici (2 × 1010 CFU/gram) and bergamot essential oil (BC) on growth performance, immune response, blood components, body composition, gene expression, and disease resistance in sea bream (Sparus aurata Linnaeus, 1758) for 63 days. Two hundred forty sea bream juveniles were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 60, 3 replicates): a control (BC0) and diets supplemented with 1 (BC1), 2 (BC2), or 4 (BC4) g BC/kg diet. Results indicated that BC supplementation at 2.4 g significantly improved final body weight (quadratic, p = 0.017, R2 = 0.90), weight gain (linear, p < 0.001, R2 = 0.89), specific growth rate (linear, p < 0.01, R2 = 0.68), and FCR improved linearly (R2 = 0.77). Optimal BC doses for dry matter (R2 = 0.89), crude protein (R2 = 0.96), and ash (R2 = 0.95) of whole-body composition were determined to be 1.6, 2.17, and 2 g/kg, respectively, based on a quadratic trend analysis. The lipid content of whole-body composition decreased linearly with the addition of BC (R2 = 0.94, p < 0.001). Serum malondialdehyde levels decreased quadratically (R2 = 0.98, optimal dose 2 g/kg) with the addition of BC. Total antioxidant capacity (R2 = 0.93) and superoxide dismutase (R2 = 0.97) in fish serum increased linearly, while catalase increased cubically (R2 = 0.98, optimal dose 2.3 g/kg). Phagocytic activity (R2 = 0.98), phagocytic index (R2 = 0.93), white blood cell counts (R2 = 0.96), and lysosomal activity (R2 = 0.92) were linearly increased. The levels of immunoglobulin M (IgM) increased cubically (R2 = 0.87), peaking at 1.95 g BC/kg with BC supplementation. BC supplementation improved blood protein fractions and glucose levels, while liver enzymes decreased linearly (p < 0.01). Amylase (R2 = 0.99), lipase (R2 = 0.96), and protease (R2 = 0.90) activities increased quadratically (p < 0.05). BC2 and BC4 groups exhibited higher IGF-1 and GHR gene expressions (p < 0.01). TNF-α and IL-1β gene expressions decreased, while IL-10 gene expression increased significantly (p < 0.01) in all BC supplementation doses. Survival rates in the experimental groups were 30%, 50%, 60%, and 75% for fish receiving 0, 1, 2, and 4 g/kg diet of BC, respectively. BC improved the hepatopancreas and intestinal histology compared to control diet. BC supplementation enhanced disease resistance against Vibrio parahaemolyticus. In conclusion, the combined effects of P. acidilactici and bergamot essential oil enhanced growth, hematological parameters, immunity, and disease resistance. This suggests a potential immunomodulatory, antioxidant, and growth-promoting approach for sea bream aquaculture.

Dietary co-supplementation of Pediococcus acidilactici and bergamot essential oil improves growth, immune response, and disease resistance in sea bream (Sparus aurata)

期刊论文
发表日期：

2025年12月4日

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Roshmon Thomas Mathew,
Yousef Ahmed Alkhamis,
Ahmed Saud Alsaqufi,
Abdallah Tageldein Mansour,
Hesham Abdallah Hassanien,
Abdullah Sheikh,
Huda Ahmad Alamer,
Hailah M. Almohaimeed,
Ehab El-Haroun,
El-Sayed Hemdan Eissa,
Sameh A. Abdelnour

摘要

This study investigated the dose-dependent effects of a 1:1 mixture of Pediococcus acidilactici (2 × 10¹⁰ CFU/gram) and bergamot essential oil (BC) on growth performance, immune response, blood components, body composition, gene expression, and disease resistance in sea bream (Sparus aurata Linnaeus, 1758) for 63 days. Two hundred forty sea bream juveniles were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 60, 3 replicates): a control (BC0) and diets supplemented with 1 (BC1), 2 (BC2), or 4 (BC4) g BC/kg diet. Results indicated that BC supplementation at 2.4 g significantly improved final body weight (quadratic, p = 0.017, R² = 0.90), weight gain (linear, p < 0.001, R² = 0.89), specific growth rate (linear, p < 0.01, R² = 0.68), and FCR improved linearly (R² = 0.77). Optimal BC doses for dry matter (R² = 0.89), crude protein (R² = 0.96), and ash (R² = 0.95) of whole-body composition were determined to be 1.6, 2.17, and 2 g/kg, respectively, based on a quadratic trend analysis. The lipid content of whole-body composition decreased linearly with the addition of BC (R² = 0.94, p < 0.001). Serum malondialdehyde levels decreased quadratically (R² = 0.98, optimal dose 2 g/kg) with the addition of BC. Total antioxidant capacity (R² = 0.93) and superoxide dismutase (R² = 0.97) in fish serum increased linearly, while catalase increased cubically (R² = 0.98, optimal dose 2.3 g/kg). Phagocytic activity (R² = 0.98), phagocytic index (R² = 0.93), white blood cell counts (R² = 0.96), and lysosomal activity (R² = 0.92) were linearly increased. The levels of immunoglobulin M (IgM) increased cubically (R² = 0.87), peaking at 1.95 g BC/kg with BC supplementation. BC supplementation improved blood protein fractions and glucose levels, while liver enzymes decreased linearly (p < 0.01). Amylase (R² = 0.99), lipase (R² = 0.96), and protease (R² = 0.90) activities increased quadratically (p < 0.05). BC2 and BC4 groups exhibited higher IGF-1 and GHR gene expressions (p < 0.01). TNF-α and IL-1β gene expressions decreased, while IL-10 gene expression increased significantly (p < 0.01) in all BC supplementation doses. Survival rates in the experimental groups were 30%, 50%, 60%, and 75% for fish receiving 0, 1, 2, and 4 g/kg diet of BC, respectively. BC improved the hepatopancreas and intestinal histology compared to control diet. BC supplementation enhanced disease resistance against Vibrio parahaemolyticus. In conclusion, the combined effects of P. acidilactici and bergamot essential oil enhanced growth, hematological parameters, immunity, and disease resistance. This suggests a potential immunomodulatory, antioxidant, and growth-promoting approach for sea bream aquaculture.