Administration of Probiotics in the Water in Finfish Aquaculture Systems: A Review

Abstract

Over the last few decades, the contribution of aquaculture to animal protein production has increased enormously, and the sector now provides almost half of the fish and shellfish consumed worldwide, making it a major food producer. Nevertheless, many factors, including infections, pollution, and stress, may result in significant economic losses. The aquaculture industry will not be totally successful without the therapeutic and preventive means to control all these factors. Antibiotics (long used in aquaculture practice) have tended to aggravate the problem by increasing antibiotic resistance. Concomitantly, probiotics have widely been suggested as eco-friendly alternatives to antibiotics. However, the way in which probiotics are applied in aquaculture is a key factor in their favorable performance. The aim of this review was to examine the current state of probiotics administration through the water in finfish aquaculture. The review also attempts to cover the research gaps existing in our knowledge of this administration mode, and to suggest the issues that need to be investigated in greater depth.

Surface display system for probiotics and its application in aquaculture

“…Therefore, Verschuere et al (2000) put forward the concept of aquaculture probiotics, ‘a live microbial adjunct which has a beneficial effect on the host by modifying the host‐associated or ambient microbial community, by ensuring improved use of the feed or enhancing its nutritional value, by enhancing the host response towards disease, or by improving the quality of its ambient environment’. The principles of probiotic effect are as follows: (i) when the probiotic administration is through water or feed, these eco‐friendly additives have proven effective in control of toxic compounds (ammonium and other nitrogenous compounds) mainly produced by faeces, underused feed and waste in aquatic systems (Jahangiri & Esteban 2018), and can improve water quality (Banerjee & Ray 2017). (ii) Probiotics can produce some beneficial substances, which are useful for food utilization, growth performance and immunity enhancement of the host.…”

Effect of Adding BIOM-S Probiotic on Survival and Growth Rate of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

“…Among all the routes of probiotic administration in aquaculture, supplementation of rearing water is the only method which is applicable for all ages of fish. The administration via feeding (dry feed) definitely has limitations during early larval stages due to immature digestive tracts of fish in that stage of development [3].…”

“…The most bacteria found in the probiotic are Bacillus sp., Saccharomyces sp., and Lactobacillus sp. [3].…”

Characterization of two potent probiotic strains: Bacillus sp. R2 and Planococcus sp. R11 isolated from the g astrointestinal tract of sea bream (Sparus aurata)

“…Probiotics are identified as live microorganisms that confer a health benefit on the host when administered in adequate amounts (Jahangiri & Esteban, 2018). In aquatic culture environments, administration of probiotics can be applied to inhibit pathogens.…”