Dietary effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Bifidobacterium longum probiotics cocktail on the growth and health of Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) in aquaculture

Abstract

Probiotics provide a cost-effective and eco-friendly solution as feed additives for enhancing fish growth and immunity. A wide variety of commercial probiotics, of microalgae, bacteriophages, and yeast extracts, are widely used in aquaculture. However, the use of a concoction probiotic premix as a single feed additive remains underexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of S. cerevisiae and Bifidobacterium longum probiotic mixtures on the growth performance, feed utilisation, serum biochemistry, and intestinal morphometry of Mozambique tilapia. A 60-day feeding trial was conducted using fingerlings (4.5 ± 1.55 g) distributed into three replicate tanks across four treatment groups receiving probiotic mixtures at 0.00 g/kg (control), 0.45 g/kg, 0.9 g/kg, and 1.35 g/kg feed. Higher inclusion levels (1.35 g/kg feed) significantly improved survival probability (0.92), final weights, and percentage weight gain (P < 0.05). Feed conversion ratio, specific growth rate, and protein efficiency ratio were significantly better in (1.35 g/kg) probiotics (P < 0.001). Higher probiotic doses (1.35 g/kg) significantly improved haemoglobin, MCV, MCH, MCHC, ALP, albumin, globulin, glucose, and total protein (P < 0.05), while AST and ALT significantly improved (P < 0.05). Intestinal histomorphology: villus width, length, crypt depth, wall thickness, and goblet cell were significantly enhanced (P < 0.05). This study concludes that a concoction of S. cerevisiae and B. longum significantly enhances growth, survival, health, and feed efficiency. This study recommends 0.9–1.35 g/kg feed of probiotics mix as fish feed additives for tilapia. Further research and policy support are essential to commercialise this probiotic blend, leveraging its global availability and affordability to boost aquaculture productivity.