The demand for cultured carp species has grown tremendously during the last decade due to their high market value. Recently, intensive aquaculture system has been expanding and is emerging as one of ...the most practical and promising tools to meet the requirements of carp. However, in intensive fish farming, animals are subjected to stress conditions that weaken fish immune systems, leading to increased susceptibility to diseases. These diseases have resulted in production losses and remain as one of the major causes of concern for carp farmers. Recently, one of the major limiting factors in intensive fish culture is the use of dietary supplements probiotics and prebiotics. These natural ingredients enhance the immune response of fish, confer tolerance against different stressors and minimize the risk associated with the use of chemical products such as: vaccines, antibiotics and chemotherapeutics. The present review summarizes and discusses the results of probiotic and prebiotic administration on growth performance, gut physiology, intestinal microbiota, immune response and health status of different carp species. Furthermore, this study tries to cover the gaps in existing knowledge and suggest issues that merit further investigations.
•Cyprinids are widely distributed worldwide having a high impact in aquaculture.•Probiotics and prebiotics used as supplements to improve carp growth•Probiotics and prebiotics activated the innate immunity of carp culture species.•Moreover, probiotics and prebiotics enhanced the tolerance of carp against the diseases.•Probiotics can be applied singly or in combination with prebiotics for carps.
A feeding trial was carried out to determine effects of heat-killed Lactobacillus plantarum (HK-LP) for red sea bream (Pagrus major). Five dietary levels of a commercial product containing 20% HK-LP ...at 1, 10, 100, 1000, and 2000mgkg−1 diets were supplemented to the basal diet (control), respectively. Triplicate groups of fish (initial weight: 11g) were stocked in 100-L polycarbonate circular tanks at a density of 12 fish per tank under the flow-through system, and were fed the respective test diets for 56days. At the end of a feeding trial, the results showed that the fish fed the diet at 10, 100, 1000 and 2000mgkg−1 HK-LP significantly grew faster than control group. Similarly, significantly improved feed intake, feed efficiency ratio, protein retention, and apparent digestibility coefficients were also found at 1000mgkg−1 HK-LP group than those in HK-LP free group. Some parameters such as serum lysozyme activity, total serum protein, mucus secretion, and the tolerance against low salinity stress were improved in fish fed 1000mgkg−1 HK-LP compared to those in HK-LP free group. This study demonstrated that HK-LP enhanced non-specific immune defense system of red sea bream, providing them with higher resistance to the stress and better immune response.
•No previous work has addressed the effect of probiotic for Pagrus major.•Fish performances were improved by heat-killed Lactobacillus plantarum (HK-LP).•Enhancement of Pagrus major immune responses by HK-LP•Enhancement of antioxidant status of Pagrus major•The optimum supplement of dietary HK-LP for Pagrus major is 0.1%.
Although nucleotides (NT) have long been implicated as feed attractants in both vertebrate and invertebrate species, research into potential growth and health benefits of dietary NT in aquaculture ...species has just been implemented in early 2000s. To date, research pertaining to NT supplementation in aquafeed as functional nutrients has shown rather consistent and encouraging, beneficial results in fish and shrimp health management. Dietary NT serve a marked role to enhance growth in early stages of development, improve reproductive performances of brood fish, enhance larval quality, increase stress and disease resistance, modulate immune functions and improve intestinal morphology and gut microbiota of fish and shrimp. NT have also been used as functional supplement in alternative protein based diet, where NT was found as an effective supplement to increase the efficiency of utilizing alternative proteins. However, still there are numerous gaps in existing knowledge about exogenous NT administration to fish and shrimp including various aspects of digestion, absorption, metabolism, administration duration and age/size‐related responses. Adoption of different molecular technologies, like proteome modification and study of several gene expression pattern related to growth, immunity, gut health and stress resistance in details are important for exploring the underlying mechanisms of NT functions in improved growth and health performances of fish and shrimp. Efforts are also needed on production technologies to reduce the NT cost. Moreover, extensive research information is also required regarding the use of NT in alternative protein and lipid based diet to develop cost‐effective, ecofriendly functional aquafeed in near future.
A 65-day feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of replacing fish meal with yeast fermented rapeseed meal (FRM) on growth performance, feed utilization, innate immune responses and ...oxidative stress of red sea bream juvenile, Pagrus major. Triplicate groups of fish received five isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets where fish meal was replaced with FRM at 0% (FRM0), 18.75% (FRM1), 37.5% (FRM2), 56.25% (FRM3) and 75% (FRM4), respectively. The results indicated that there were no differences in final body weight, weight gain, specific growth rate and feed intake among all groups when compared to fish fed the control diet (FRM0) except for those fed the FRM4 diet, which showed reductions (P < 0.05). Furthermore, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio and survival were not affected by the test diets. At the end of the trial, dietary treatments had no significant influence (P > 0.05) on whole body ash, lipid contents, body somatic indices or gut protease activity. Highest levels of fermented rapeseed meal (FRM3 and FRM4 diets) significantly decreased (P < 0.05) whole body protein content. The animals fed FRM4 returned decreased (P < 0.05) dry matter compared with the control group. Blood hematocrit level decreased progressively among dietary treatments with only the FRM4 fed group showing differences (P < 0.05) when compared to the FRM0 group. Other blood parameters (glucose, cholesterol, blood urea nitrogen, bilirubin, triglyceride, total serum protein) and innate immune responses parameters (lysozyme and peroxidase activities) were not altered by diet. Glutamyl oxaloacetic transaminase activity was lowest (P < 0.05) in the FRM2 diet. Fish resistance to low salinity was not affected by the fermented meal substitution. Therefore, we can conclude that protein from FRM can successfully substitute up to 56.25% of fish meal protein without negative effects on growth, nutrient utilization, innate immune response or oxidative stress of juvenile red sea bream.
•Effects of replacement of fish meal (FM) with yeast fermented rapeseed meal (FRM) on red sea bream were investigated.•56.25% of FM could be replaced by FRM without negative effect on fish growth, feed utilization and blood parameters.•Fish immune responses and tolerance against low salinity water were not significantly affected by FRM inclusion in diet.•Substitution of FM with FRM by up to 37.5% improved fish antioxidant defense system.
Aquaculture, which constitutes one of the largest food production sectors in the world, is preferably practiced with natural organic products rather than with synthetic chemicals or antibiotics. In ...addition to the daunting challenge of providing food and livelihood to the exponentially increasing world population, the aquaculture industry is key to ensuring that development is based on environmentally sustainable practices, specifically in the production of aquafeeds. Terrestrial microorganisms that act as natural defence systems of cultured species have been identified as the main producer for the beneficial bacterial candidates. Probiotics have recently gained popularity as beneficial microbes candidates in cultured organisms to maintain the health condition and well‐being of different aquatic animals. This review aimed to understand the necessity of using probiotics as a sustainable alternative to regulate the growth performance, feed utilisation and general health condition for sustainable aquaculture. Also, explanatory discussion about the host microbiota and its ability to produce different probiotic strains and the probiotic functionality to ameliorate the host immunity to provide the interactive effects on the host‐derived probiotics. By presenting the results obtained from the previous studies about the ability of probiotics to sustain the aquatic animal's performances, this study condensed the current knowledge and information for future research and development of the probiotic application in aquaculture.
Four feeding trials were carried out to investigate the effect of immunobiotic (Heat-killed Lactobacillus plantarum strain L-137-HK L-137) supplement in diets on growth, immune responses and stress ...resistance of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). For the growth evaluation, three different feeding regimes allocated for tilapia juveniles including 0, 10, 20 and 50 ppm concentrations of HK L-137 for the first 50-day feeding period, and then fish were continuously fed diets with reduced HK L-137 levels of 0, 2, 4 and 4 ppm, respectively for 70 days, and finally the last feeding period prolonged for 30 days without HK L-137 in diets. In terms of the immunity test, fish were exposed to ammonium chloride and Streptococcus agalactiae to investigate the immune responses and stress resistance.
Fish fed HK L-137 containing diets showed significantly higher growth compared to those fed the control diet. Phagocyte and lysozyme activity of fish fed HK L-137 diets were significantly higher than those of the control for 50-day feeding period and a similar situation obtained at day 75 for fish fed 4 ppm HK L-137-containing diets compared to those of the remaining diets (0 and 2 ppm HK L-137). Stress resistance in fish to ammonia indicated that fish fed HK L-137 supplemented diets performed a lower increment of cortisol concentration compared to those fed the control diet. Interestingly, the lowest cumulative mortality rate (78.33%) obtained in fish fed 20 ppm HK L-137 while the poorest values observed in group fed control diet (96.67%) after exposure to S. agalactiae for 15 days. The present study revealed that the appropriate doses of HK L-137 ranged from 20 to 50 ppm in diets provided the notable positive effects enhancing not only the growth performances but also immunity responses and stress resistance of Nile tilapia.
•Effects of dietary heat-killed Lactobacillus plantarum (HK L-137) were investigated on growth, immune responses and stress resistance of Nile tilapia•Fish fed HK L-137 containing diets showed significantly higher growth compared to those fed the control diet.•Phagocyte and lysozyme activity of fish fed HK L-137 diets were significantly higher than those of the control.•The lowest cumulative mortality rate after a challenge test was obtained in fish fed 20 ppm HK L-137.•The present study revealed that the appropriate doses of HK L-137 ranged from 20 to 50 ppm in diets provided the notable positive effects enhancing not only the growth performances but also immunity responses and stress resistance of Nile tilapia.
This study investigated the effects of bovine lactoferrin (bLf) on the body surface defense factors, stress response to fresh water exposure, and anti-parasitic effects against Neobenedenia girellae ...in amberjack (Seriola dumerili) juveniles. In the first trial, amberjack juveniles were fed test diets supplemented with four different levels of bLf (0, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg kg−1) for 4 weeks to determine the appropriate bLf supplement level and feeding duration, and stress responses to short-term fresh water exposure followed by recovery at ambient salinity were also measured. This showed that a diet supplemented with ≥1000 mg bLf kg−1 for 2 weeks improved skin mucus production, non-specific defense factors, and mitigated stress. In the second trial, amberjack juveniles were fed diets supplemented with 0 and 1000 mg bLf kg−1 for 2 weeks and challenged by N. girellae oncomiracidia. It was found that fish that had been fed a diet supplemented with 1000 mg bLf kg−1 had significantly fewer parasites than fish that had been fed the unsupplemented control diet. Together, these results suggest that dietary bLf enhances defense ability the body surface, mitigates low-salinity stress, and enhances anti-parasitic effects against N. girellae oncomiracidia in amberjack juveniles.
•We have developed simple parasite control method using dietary bovine lactoferrin in aquacultured amberjack.•Dietary bovine lactoferrin enhances skin mucus defense factors and anti-parasitic effect against Neobenedenia girellae.•Dietary bovine lactoferrin also has an ability to mitigate stress caused by fresh water bath treatment for amberjack.
A usual strategy in modern aquaculture to combat production bottlenecks associated with intensification is preventive health care through the use of consumer and environment-friendly alternatives ...including probiotics. The current study evaluates the influence of Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LR), a lyophilized probiotic bacterium, on health status and performance of red sea bream (Pagrus major). Probiotics were incorporated in the diets at four different concentrations: 0 (control diet, LR0), 102 (LR1), 104 (LR2) and 106 (LR3) cells g−1 and diets were administered to the fish for a period of 8 weeks. After the feeding trial, final body weight, body weight gain, specific growth rate, protease activity, protein digestibility, Lactobacillus sp. intestinal count, and superoxide dismutase were significantly higher in all probiotic-fed groups (P < 0.05). In addition, lipid and dry matter digestibility, reactive oxygen metabolites, biological antioxidant potential, and humoral and mucosal immune parameters including (total serum protein, alternative complement pathway, bactericidal and peroxidase activities) were also significantly elevated in fish fed probiotic supplementations being the effects dose-dependent. All growth, feed utilization, immune and oxidative parameters were significantly improved following probiotic administration. Present results revealed that L. rhamnosus is a promising probiotic candidate employed to help red sea bream protect themselves, thus promoting safe farming that would be less dependent on chemotherapy against infectious diseases.
•Probiotics could be used as an alternative method to antibiotic treatment in red sea bream aquaculture.•Probiotics studied enhance fish growth.•Probiotics studied enhance fish innate immunity and oxidative status.•Incorporation of 104 to 106 cells g−1 LR is a suitable supplement to enhance general performances of red sea bream.
Pagrus major fingerlings (3·29 ± 0·02 g) were fed with basal diet (control) supplemented with Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LR), Lactococcus lactis (LL), and L. rhamnosus + L. lactis (LR + LL) at 106 cell ...g−1 feed for 56 days. Feeding a mixture of LR and LL significantly increased feed utilization (FER and PER), intestine lactic acid bacteria (LAB) count, plasma total protein, alternative complement pathway (ACP), peroxidase, and mucus secretion compared with the other groups (P < 0.05). Serum lysozyme activity (LZY) significantly increased in LR + LL when compared with the control group. Additionally, fish fed the LR + LL diet showed a higher growth performance (Fn wt, WG, and SGR) and protein digestibility than the groups fed an individual LR or the control diet. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) significantly increased in LR and LR + LL groups when compared with the other groups. Moreover, the fish fed LR or LL had better improvement (P < 0.05) in growth, feed utilization, body protein and lipid contents, digestibility coefficients (dry matter, protein, and lipid), protease activity, total intestine and LAB counts, hematocrit, total plasma protein, biological antioxidant potential, ACP, serum and mucus LZY and bactericidal activities, peroxidase, SOD, and mucus secretion than the control group. Interestingly, fish fed diets with LR + LL showed significantly lower total cholesterol and triglycerides when compared with the other groups (P < 0.05). These data strongly suggest that a mixture of LR and LL probiotics may serve as a healthy immunostimulating feed additive in red sea bream aquaculture.
•A single or mixture of Lactobacillus rhamnosus or/and Lactococcus lactis fed to red sea bream (Pagrus major).•The mixture supplementation significantly improved growth performance and feed utilization of fish.•The mixture-fed fish showed enhanced oxidative status.•The mixture-fed fish showed enhanced immune responses.
Inosine and inosine monophosphate (IMP) are the most extensively studied specific nucleotide for feeding stimulation research rather than using as functional nutrients for potential growth and health ...benefit of aquatic species. Therefore, a 10-week feeding trial was conducted to determine comparative effects of inosine and IMP as functional nutrients on growth performance, immune responses, stress resistance and intestinal morphology of juvenile red sea bream (Pagrus major). Casein based semi-purified basal diet was formulated to contain 54% protein, 11% lipid, without inosine and IMP supplementation (Control). Four levels of inosine nucleoside (0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8% for diet groups INO-0.2, INO-0.4, INO-0.6 and INO-0.8 respectively) and IMP nucleotide (0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8% for diet groups IMP-0.2, IMP-0.4, IMP-0.6 and IMP-0.8 respectively) were added to the basal diet. Each diet was randomly allocated to triplicate groups of fish with initial average weight of 6.6g. The results indicated that dietary inosine and IMP supplementations tended to improve growth performances, in which one of the best ones was found in diet group IMP-0.6, but the values did not significantly differ from those in diet groups IMP-0.4 and INO-0.4, respectively. Superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and bactericidal activity were significantly influenced by dietary supplementation of inosine and IMP. However, the values of these parameters were not significantly different among diet groups INO-0.4, IMP-0.4 and IMP-0.6. Total serum protein, catalase and lysozyme activity were also improved (P>0.05) by dietary supplementation of inosine and IMP. Supplementations improved both freshwater stress and oxidative stress resistances. Fish fed diet groups INO-0.4 and IMP-0.6 showed the least oxidative stress condition. Inosine and IMP supplementations significantly increased enterocyte height (hE), fold height (hF) of both anterior and posterior intestine and microvillus height (hMV) of posterior intestine compared to those of the control. The highest hF observed in diet group IMP-0.4 and the mean value was not significantly different from those in other IMP diets, INO-0.4 and INO-0.6, respectively. Significantly highest anterior hE and posterior hF, hE and hMV observed in diet group INO-0.4. However, no significant difference of posterior hF observed between INO-0.4 and IMP supplemented diet groups. Fish fed supplemented diets also showed improved survival compared to control (P>0.05). Considering overall performances, it can be concluded that diet groups INO-0.4 and IMP-0.4 showed relatively better performance among inosine and IMP supplemented diet groups respectively compared to control. Furthermore, diets supplemented with either inosine or IMP at 0.4% are beneficial to promote growth, immune responses, stress resistance and intestinal health condition of juvenile red sea bream.
In this study inosine and inosine monophosphate has been evaluated as potential functional nutrients for marine fish such as red sea bream. Since supplementations of such immunostimulant-like functional nutrients are very important for the development of functional aquafeeds, I hope findings of this paper will help to develop low fishmeal based functional aquafeeds in near future.
•No previous work has addressed the comparative effects of inosine and inosine monophosphate (IMP) as functional nutrients for Pagrus major.•Fish performances were improved by dietary inosine and IMP administration.•Enhancement of Pagrus major immune responses by inosine and IMP supplementation.•Enhancement of antioxidant status and intestinal health condition of Pagrus major.•Supplementation of either inosine or IMP at 0.4% is beneficial for Pagrus major.
