The diets were formulated incorporating both probiotic
and prebiotic (10% FOS) components. FOS are
naturally occurring non-digestible carbohydrates that
in combination with the probionts promote long-term
health via gastrointestinal immune system. Kaplan and
Hutkins (2000) screened 28 strains of LAB and related
species for their ability to ferment FOS and showed that12 of 16 strains of Lactobacillus responded positively.
This may probably be so for the specific strain
employed in this study. The potential synergy between
probiotics and prebiotics has been suggested in humans
(Gibson and Roberford, 1995); however, there is a
dearth of such information in aquatic organisms.