Dietary Supplementation of Solid-state Fermented Yellow Mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) Larvae Meal Enriched by Lactobacillus sp. in Guppy (Poecilia reticulata)

The current study examined the dietary solid-state fermented yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) larvae meal inclusion on growth performance, gut microbiota, body composition, liver and intestinal histology and histomorphometric parameters in the guppy (Poecilia reticulata) for 84 days. Guppies were fed diets included with no supplementation (C); 4 g/kg yellow mealworm larva meal (G1), 4 g/kg solid-state fermented with Lactobacillus brevis yellow mealworm larvae meal (G2), 4 g/kg solid-state fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum yellow mealworm larvae meal (G3), the combination of 2 g/kg solid-state fermented with L. brevis plus 2 g/kg solid-state fermented with L. plantarum yellow mealworm larvae meal (G4). For female guppies, the growth performance of the G4 group clearly differed from all groups with the synergistic effect of solid-state fermented with L. plantarum plus L. brevis. In male guppies, G3 and G4 groups showed the highest growth performance values among all groups. The intestinal microbiota of guppies was clearly varied with supplementation groups. Fusobacteria was the most abundant phylum in C, G1, G2 and G3 groups. However, Proteobacteria showed the most intensity in the G4 group. Intestinal villus height, width and surface area were positively affected in solid-state fermented yellow mealworm larvae meal supplementation groups, reaching higher values in G3 and G4 groups. In conclusion, solid-state fermented yellow mealworm larvae meal via 2 g/kg L. plantarum plus 2 g/kg L. brevis can improve growth performance by modulating the gut microbiota of guppies.