Probiotics in fish and shellfish culture: immunomodulatory and ecophysiological responses

Abstract

Aquaculture is emerging as one of the most viable and promising enterprises for keeping pace with the surging need for animal protein, providing nutritional and food security to humans, particularly those residing in regions where livestock is relatively scarce. With every step toward intensification of aquaculture practices, there is an increase in the stress level in the animal as well as the environment. Hence, disease outbreak is being increasingly recognized as one of the most important constraints to aquaculture production in many countries, including India. Conventionally, the disease control in aquaculture has relied on the use of chemical compounds and antibiotics. The development of non-antibiotic and environmentally friendly agents is one of the key factors for health management in aquaculture. Consequently, with the emerging need for environmentally friendly aquaculture, the use of alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters in fish nutrition is now widely accepted. In recent years, probiotics have taken center stage and are being used as an unconventional approach that has numerous beneficial effects in fish and shellfish culture: improved activity of gastrointestinal microbiota and enhanced immune status, disease resistance, survival, feed utilization and growth performance. As natural products, probiotics have much potential to increase the efficiency and sustainability of aquaculture production. Therefore, comprehensive research to fully characterize the intestinal microbiota of prominent fish species, mechanisms of action of probiotics and their effects on the intestinal ecosystem, immunity, fish health and performance is reasonable. This review highlights the classifications and applications of probiotics in aquaculture. The review also summarizes the advancement and research highlights of the probiotic status and mode of action, which are of great significance from an ecofriendly, sustainable, intensive aquaculture point of view.

Isolation and characterization of native probiotics for fish farming

“…Used as prophylaxis or therapeutic treatment, probiotics act via competitive exclusion of the respective pathogen or directly inhibiting its propagation [ 38 , 39 ]. Therefore, probiotics represent an alternative in disease prophylaxis and treatment, particularly in the context of emerging antibiotic resistance reported from aquatic environments in general [ 40 – 43 ] as well as from aquaculture sites [ 44 , 45 ].…”

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“…The probiotic, baker's yeast was used as a growth promoter in the present study. The beneficial effects and responses application of probiotic in aquaculture in order to promote growth and disease control in form of alternate to antimicrobial compounds has become a common practice (Irianto and Austin, 2002;Jones, 1980;Wang, 2007), has reviewed by Meena et al (2014). However, growth performance of fish group fed with diet A was found to be better than the group fed with feed P alone.…”

“…The attractant present in the diet accomplished a better feed consumption which was better digested and assimilated due to the presence of probiotic (Meena et al, 2014;Denev et al, 2009;Irianto and Austin, 2002).…”

“…The highest protein accretion in group fed with feed PA may be attributed to the better feed consumption and utilization due to the combined use of additives (De et al, 2014;Denev et al, 2009;Pandiyan et al, 2013).…”

“…Leaves of Marjoram found to improve growth, feed conversion, protein utilization and protein and energy digestibilities of hybrid tilapia (Guo et al, 2010). Seventeen kinds of Chinese medicinal plants including Ekangi (K. galanga) were tested for their role as attractant in bait for Brachydanio rerio with varying results (Guo et al, 2010 (Pandiyan et al, 2013;Wang, 2007;Meena et al, 2014), enhanced immune status (Irianto and Austin., 2002;Salinas et al, 2006), disease resistance, survival, feed utilization (Mohapatra et al, 2012;Pandiyan et al, 2013;Meena et al, 2014), growth and the improvement of nutrition of host species by producing digestive enzymes (Wang, 2007;Mohapatra et al, 2012). Therefore, while developing feed for Indian major carp, L. rohita, for its cage culture; efforts were made to study the role of natural attractants and probiotics in their feed consumption pattern, feed utilization and growth performances.…”