Use of Probiotics in Aquaculture

Abstract

The growth of aquaculture as an industry has accelerated over the past decades; this has resulted in environmental damages and low productivity of various crops. The need for increased disease resistance, growth of aquatic organisms, and feed efficiency has brought about the use of probiotics in aquaculture practices. The first application of probiotics occurred in 1986, to test their ability to increase growth of hydrobionts (organisms that live in water). Later, probiotics were used to improve water quality and control of bacterial infections. Nowadays, there is documented evidence that probiotics can improve the digestibility of nutrients, increase tolerance to stress, and encourage reproduction. Currently, there are commercial probiotic products prepared from various bacterial species such as Bacillus sp., Lactobacillus sp., Enterococcus sp., Carnobacterium sp., and the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae among others, and their use is regulated by careful management recommendations. The present paper shows the current knowledge of the use of probiotics in aquaculture, its antecedents, and safety measures to be carried out and discusses the prospects for study in this field.

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“…They could improve growth performance and feed conversion efficiency of fish by producing short chain fatty acids, digestive enzymes and vitamins (Martínez et al, 2012), enhance immune response by effecting T-cell differentiation ( Merrifield et al, 2010), provide resistance to pathogenic organisms ( Muñoz-Atienza et al, 2013) and increase tolerance under stressful condition (Varela et al, 2010). Moreover, also assure the digestion of anti-nutritional factors (Suzer et al, 2008), enhance fish appetite, improve carcass and flesh quality (van Nuenen et al, 2005).…”

Antibiotic Resistance in Bacterial Isolates from Commercial Probiotics Used in Aquaculture

“…In recent decades, prevention and control of animal diseases has focused on the use of chemicals and antibiotics, which generate significant risks to public health by promoting the selection, propagation, and persistence of bacterial-resistant strains (FAO,2006 andWHO, 2012). Probiotics are considered as safe and viable alternatives for the health management for improved production in aquaculture (Martinez et al, 2012). Recent studies have shown the presence of genes that confer antibiotic resistance thereby posing a danger of transmission of such genes to pathogenic bacteria through horizontal gene transfer (Imperial et al, 2016).…”

Evaluation of extracellular enzyme-producing autochthonous gut bacteria in walking catfish, Clarias batrachus (L.)

“…In addition, since the freshly hatched larvae do not have microbial community in the gut, on the gills or on the skin, they become more susceptible to the diseases caused by pathogens. In this respect, application of potent extracellular enzyme-producing autochthonous bacteria might hold promise to provide nutritional support and limit pathogenic microbial load to reduce mortality in catfish larvae as indicated for probiotic applications elsewhere (Cruz et al 2012).…”