Efficacy of probiotics on Litopenaeus vannamei culture through zero water exchange system

Abstract

Biosecure zero-exchange systems represent an emerging technology that provides a high degree of pathogen exclusion with minimal water exchange. An important ramification associated with reduced or zero water exchange is the increased importance of in situ microorganisms both in regulating biogeochemical cycles within the culture environment and in directly affecting shrimp growth and survival. The newest attempt to improve water quality and control diseases in aquaculture is the application of probiotics and/or enzymes to ponds. This concept of biological disease control, particularly using microbiological modulator for disease prevention has received widespread attention. Keeping the above points in mind, this work was performed with zero discharge using probiotics, monitoring all the physico-chemical parameters and nutrients. The microbial population of the water and sediment were analyzed throughout the culture period. Highlights of this study are, (a) In the experimental ponds 1 and 2, the shrimps had a better growth (34.5 and 32.6 g, respectively), compared to 29.8 g in the control pond and (b) There was no incidence of disease in the experimental ponds, whereas the control pond had some bacterial infections. These encouraging results may be attributed to the use of probiotics in zero water exchange system.