Prebiotic effects of dietary xylooligosaccharides on fish gut microbiota, growth, and immunological parameters – A review

• Published in: Annals of animal science Vol. 24; no. 2; pp. 331 - 347
• Main Authors: Gufe, Claudious, Merrifield, Daniel L., Hoseinifar, Seyed Hossein, Rattanarojpong, Triwit, Khunrae, Pongsak, Abdel-Tawwab, Mohsen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kraków Sciendo 01.04.2024; De Gruyter Poland
• Subjects: Degree of polymerization; Digestive system; Disease resistance; Enzymatic activity; Fish; Fish diets; fish growth performance; fish gut microbiota; fish immunity; Gastrointestinal tract; Glycolysis; Immune response; Immunology; Intestinal microflora; Metabolites; Microbiomes; Microbiota; Microorganisms; Mode of action; Parameters; Polymerization; Prebiotics; Substitutes; xylooligosaccharides
• ISSN: 2300-8733; 1642-3402; 2300-8733
• DOI: 10.2478/aoas-2023-0069

Xylooligosaccharides (XOSs) are being explored as prebiotics in fish diets; however, their effects and modes of action have not been well evaluated. Reports have shown that dietary XOS has the potential to improve the proliferation of beneficial gut microbes, and their metabolites, and enhance disease resistance in several fish species. In contrast, other studies report no substantial changes in immune and growth parameters compared to control groups. Like all prebiotics, the mode of action of XOS is based on their selective stimulation of beneficial gut microbiota, which will outcompete and prevent pathogen proliferation in the gut, and produce metabolites that modulate host immune responses. The reports of improved growth performance of XOS fed fish may be due to improved intestinal microbiome, enhanced glycolysis activity and elevated gastrointestinal enzymatic activities. Dietary XOSs have different effects on fish performance depending on the fish species and the structure of XOSs (degree of XOS polymerization and substitution). Nevertheless, further research is essential to determine the optimal dosage, degree of polymerization, and substitution levels required to improve each fish species’ gut health and growth performance. This review highlights the prebiotic effects of XOSs, their mechanism of action, and knowledge gaps.