Why are Probiotics used in Aquaculture?
Aquaculture is one of the fastest emerging food producing sectors of the world. Probiotics are used in aquaculture to improve growth performance nutrition decrease diseases and develop immune system. Some bacterial, fungal strains can be blended with feeding pellets or by encapsulating into live feed stock or administered orally.
Probiotics
Probiotics shows a new dimension in disease resistance and improving water quality in aquaculture industry. The Greek word probiotic means “for life”, was introduced by Parker et al. According to him, probiotics are “Organisms and substance, which contribute to intestinal and microbial balance”. Fuller, et al defined probiotics as “live microbial feed supplement which beneficially affect the host animal by improving its intestinal microbial balance”.
Micro Organisms of Probiotics
Research shows that Lactic Acid Bacteria have been broadly used as probiotic strains which are usually present in the intestine of healthy fishes such as the Lactobacilli and Bifidobacterium. Some gram-positive bacteria like Bacillus, Enterococcus, Streptococcus act as common probiotic strains which are the main gastrointestinal microbiota.
Types of Probiotics
Probiotics are two types namely feed probiotics and water probiotics.
In recent years, probiotics, prebiotics have become an essential part of the aquaculture practices for improving the growth performance and disease resistance. Probiotics play an important role in feed conversion, growth rates, weight gain, immune response and disease resistance of shrimp and fish. On the other hand, prebiotics also have various beneficial effects mainly in disease resistance and nutrient availability of aquatic species. the combined application of probiotics and prebiotics, which improve the survival and establishment of the live microbial dietary supplement in the gastrointestinal tract of the host.
Click here to know more on Probiotics and their significance in Aquaculture
or reach us at [email protected]