Study of the Impact of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum I on the Health Status of Queen Scallop Aequipecten opercularis

Abstract

The objective of this research was to isolate and identify lactic acid bacteria living in the digestive tract of the queen scallop Aequipecten opercularis and further test it as a probiotic culture on the growth of the bivalve during one month in captivity. Classic microbiological techniques (API and MALDI TOF) were used and four different strains of Lactiplantibacillus and one Lactococcus were identified and further analyzed, namely: Lactiplantibacillus plantarum I, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 1, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 2, Lactococcus lactis, and Lactiplantibacillus brevis. The isolated cultures were further tested for the highest antimicrobial activity towards the most common marine pathogens and survival at different temperatures and pH levels. The strain Lactiplantibacillus plantarum I had the best results, with the highest antimicrobial activity (77–85% pathogen growth inhibition) and the best safety standards showing no antibiotic resistance, and no ability to synthesize biogenic amine and degrade red blood cells. Considering all the abovementioned characteristics, the strain Lpb. plantarum I was further tested on the growth and health status of the bivalve Aequipecten opercularis during a month of cultivation in captivity. The results showed that the incorporation of Lpb. plantarum I led to a decrease in the quantity of test microorganisms in the bivalve and an increase in both the growth rate weight and growth rate length of the queen scallop A. opercularis. Furthermore, the scallops fed with the algae culture + Lpb. plantarum I gained significantly higher meat yield (33.15 ± 2.63%) compared with the control scallops fed only with the algae culture (29.66 ± 2.87%). To conclude, the results from this research indicate that including Lpb. plantarum I as a dietary supplement could enhance growth performance and serve as a feasible approach to reduce pathogen levels while cultivating A. opercularis in captivity.

Lactic Acid Bacteria of Marine Origin as a Tool for Successful Shellfish Farming and Adaptation to Climate Change Conditions

“…Additionally, a diet supplemented with probiotics led to a 62% survival rate in bivalves infected with the pathogenic bacterium Vibrio anguillarum, compared to only 25% survival in untreated bivalves [53]. Similar positive outcomes were observed in the research conducted by Čanak et al [12], where queen scallops fed with the addition of Lpb. plantarum I exhibited increased weight and length compared to those in control tanks fed only with live algae mix culture.…”

“…However, research dealing with the impact of probiotic supplementation on the growth of bivalve mollusks in conditions of climate change is rather lacking. Kovačić et al [11] and Čanak et al [12] successfully demonstrated the positive effect of the addition of the indigenous probiotic culture Lactiplantibacillus plantarum I on the health status of queen scallop under natural conditions as well as under simulated conditions of climate change. The LAB isolate exhibited competing properties, effectively inhibiting disease-causing microorganisms.…”

“…So far, most of the works on this topic have focused on possible scenarios and predictions when growing shellfish in conditions of climate change and on potential solutions to overcome them, and there is a rather small amount of research dealing with specific examples of shellfish. Among the research are studies from Čanak et al [12] and Kovačić et al [11], which found that queen scallop (Aequipecten opercularis) tolerates conditions of climate change during supplemented feeding with Lpb. plantarum I, LAB previously isolated from the above-mentioned bivalve.…”

“…However, the mariculture industry is not passive in the face of these challenges. Innovative adaptation and mitigation strategies are being developed to minimize the impacts of climate change on mariculture [7][8][9][10][11][12].…”

The Effect of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum I-Enriched Diet on the Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Capacity of Queen Scallop (Aequipecten opercularis Linnaeus, 1758) Extracts

“…These studies collectively underscore the pivotal role of LABs, in conjunction with other bacterial constituents of the indigenous microbiota, in bolstering the health and overall well-being of aquatic organisms, encompassing both fish and shellfish. Among several probiotic bacterial species, a body of literature details the advantageous influence of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (formerly known as Lactobacillus plantarum) on marine organisms [7][8][9]. Scientists are trying to isolate probiotic cultures from marine organisms, culture them in vitro, and further supply them as food supplements in the aquaculture of commercially important species [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16].…”