Effects of insect diets on the gastrointestinal tract health and growth performance of Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii Brandt, 1869)

BACKGROUND: Insects in the fish diet are a natural source of protein, fat, and other nutrients. These meals are considered an ecological replacement for fishmeal to improve growth parameters. The application of insect meals to fish diets has been studied, especially in continental fish. Data regarding the effects of insect meals on the gut health of Siberian sturgeon are not available. This study investigated the effects of full-fat Hermetia illucens (HI) and Tenebrio molitor (TM) meals on the gut health of juvenile Siberian sturgeon. Growth performance, gastrointestinal tract (GIT) histomorphology and the microbiome composition of juvenile Siberian sturgeon were analyzed. RESULTS: The inclusion of insect meals did not affect the growth performance or the survival rate. In the gastrointestinal tract histomorphology, a reduction in the mucosa thickness with the HI treatment was observed. In contrast, fish fed the TM diet had an increase in the thickness of the muscular layer. There were no observed significant differences in villus height among treatments. The analysis of the selected microbiota populations in the Siberian sturgeon gastrointestinal tract showed that insect addition affected the composition of the microbiome. The greatest effect on bacterial populations (Clostridium leptum subgroup, Enterobacteriaceae, Clostridium coccoides – Eubacterium rectale cluster, Aeromonas spp., Bacillus spp., Carnobacterium spp., Enterococcus spp. and Lactobacillus group) was observed with the HI diet (P < 0.05). The TM-based diet increased counts in the following bacterial groups: Clostridium coccoides – Eubacterium rectale cluster, Bacillus spp., Carnobacterium spp., and Enterococcus spp. In contrast, the TM diet decreased the total number of bacteria. The TM diet did not significantly affect the Clostridium leptum subgroup, Enterobacteriaceae, Aeromonas spp. or the Lactobacillus group. CONCLUSIONS: Fish meal replacement by the inclusion of 15% of full-fat Hermetia illucens and Tenebrio molitor (15%) meals did not affect the growth performance, survival rate or villus height of juvenile Siberian sturgeon. The present study suggests that an H. illucens-based diet positively affects the gut microbiota composition and intestinal morphology of juvenile Siberian sturgeon without negative changes in the villus height.