Dietary Probiotic Pediococcus acidilactici MA18/5M Improves the Growth, Feed Performance and Antioxidant Status of Penaeid Shrimp Litopenaeus stylirostris: A Growth-Ration-Size Approach

Abstract

Probiotics are increasingly documented to confer health and performance benefits across farmed animals. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a constant daily intake of the single-strain probiotic Pedicococcus acidilactici MA18/5M (4 × 108 CFU.day−1.kg−1 shrimp) fed over fixed, restricted ration sizes (1% to 6% biomass.day−1) on the nutritional performance and metabolism of adult penaeid shrimp Litopenaeus stylirostris (initial body-weight, BWi = 10.9 ± 1.8 g). The probiotic significantly increased the relative daily growth rate (RGR) across all ration size s tested (Mean-RGR of 0.45 ± 0.08 and 0.61 ± 0.07% BWi.day−1 for the control and probiotic groups, respectively) and decreased the maintenance ration (Rm) and the optimal ration (Ropt) by 18.6% and 11.3%, respectively. Accordingly, the probiotic group exhibited a significantly higher gross (K1) and net (K2) feed conversion efficiency with average improvement of 35% and 30%, respectively. Enhanced nutritional performances in shrimps that were fed the probiotic P. acidilactici was associated with, in particular, significantly higher α-amylase specific activity (+24.8 ± 5.5% across ration sizes) and a concentration of free-glucose and glycogen in the digestive gland at fixed ration sizes of 3% and below. This suggests that the probiotic effect might reside in a better use of dietary carbohydrates. Interestingly, P. acidilactici intake was also associated with a statistically enhanced total antioxidant status of the digestive gland and haemolymph (+24.4 ± 7.8% and +21.9 ± 8.5%, respectively; p < 0.05). As supported by knowledge in other species, enhanced carbohydrate utilization as a result of P. acidilactici intake may fuel the pentose-phosphate pathway, generating NADPH or directly enhancing OH-radicals scavenging by free glucose, in turn resulting in a decreased level of cellular oxidative stress. In conclusion, the growth-ration method documented a clear contribution of P. acidilactici MA18/5M on growth and feed efficiency of on-growing L. stylirostris that were fed fixed restricted rations under ideal laboratory conditions. The effect of the probiotic on α-amylase activity and carbohydrate metabolism and its link to the shrimp’s antioxidant status raises interesting prospects to optimize dietary formulations and helping to sustain the biological and economic efficiency of the penaeid shrimp-farming industry.

Harnessing the microbiome to prevent global biodiversity loss

“…Potential alternatives to prevent disease outbreaks include vaccines and probiotics (Gram-negative or Gram-positive bacteria, yeasts, bacteriophages or unicellular algae) 50,58,59,[104][105][106] . Currently, a lactic acid bacterium-based product (Bactocell, a feed formulation prepared from the Gram-positive species Pediococcus acidilactici) 107 is on the market, and work on the commercial production of a Gram-negative Alphaproteobacteria from the Roseobacter group, particularly the species Phaeobacter inhibens, is underway 50 . However, the exact mechanisms by which such aquaculture probiotics work are unknown, which has led to new initiatives that base the selection of strains on the mode of action.…”

The Composition and Diversity of Intestinal Microbes at Different Growth Stages of Giant Freshwater Prawns (Macrobrachium rosenbergii)

“…The intestinal microbial composition can reflect diet composition and digestive and absorption capacity, and then affect the growth of shrimp and crab hosts [23,24]. The intestinal microbiota plays a role in promoting health and growth in fishes, and it has also been found that the bacterial community can improve the metabolic capacity of carbohydrates and amino acids to enhance growth and survival [25].…”

Interval feeding of CpG ODN ‐supplemental diets enhanced growth in juvenile Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis

“…Similarly, it was found that feeding with immunopotentiators could regulate the glucose homeostasis in crustaceans (Zhang et al, 2021). For instance the concentration of glucose and glycogen was increased after feeding with probiotic Pedicococcus acidilactici in Litopenaeus stylirostris (Castex et al, 2021). Moreover, dietary carbohydrates (CBH) could also lead to the high levels of glucose and glycogen in L. stylirostris (Rosas et al, 2000).…”