Disease Management In Aquaculture Industry Using Probiotics

There has been tremendous growth of aquaculture industry in recent times.

Though such industries enable controlled growth and close monitoring of the growth, they require a lot of financial inputs for procurement of good quality seeds, maintenance of growth conditions, and disease control & management.

The latter adds most to the total expenditure of the industry.

Disease management in aquaculture is pretty tricky as the aquatic ecosystem is homogenous, and once a pathogen is introduced into the environment, it is almost impossible to restrict its spread.

Traditionally, antibiotics, hormones, and some salt compounds have been used to prevent rather than treat the diseases.

However, this adds exorbitantly to the total expenditure in the overall process, resulting in increased product costs.

Probiotics are the easiest and cheapest way to overcome this problem.

Probiotic is a live microbial feed supplement that beneficially affects intestinal health.

Unlike birds and terrestrial animals, lactic acid bacteria are subdominant in the gut of aquatic animals. Aquatics probiotics mainly consist of Bacillus sp, Enterococcus sp, Carnobacterium sp & few yeast species.

They can be easily isolated from the gut of healthy fishes and shrimps. Commercially available products are usually a combination of these organisms along with few nutrients.

These apply multiple approaches in disease management using principles of antagonism, competitive exclusion, improving immunity, and as an effect of its antibacterial and antiviral activity.

• Also Read – Why We Can’t Ignore Fish Disease In Discussions About Sustainable Aquaculture

As probiotics are added to the water periodically, there is an increase in good microorganisms present in the immediate environment of aquatic species.

These probiotic bacteria adhere to the wall of the intestinal and improve its health by secretion of metabolites.

This ultimately improves nutrient absorption in the intestine, and it has also been reported that it results in increased body mass and relatively increased protein content.

Probiotics, when in aquatic systems, also release certain metabolites in the surroundings, which have bactericidal, bacteriostatic, and even antiviral properties.

These metabolites act as an improved water quality, which is one of the most understated benefits of the use of probiotics, especially Bacillus sp.

• Also, read – Probiotics And Aquaculture.