Probiotics for cultured freshwater fish

Abstract

Probiotic products are viewed as an alternative to the use of antibiotics in freshwater fishes farming. Probiotic organisms include bacteria, yeast, and filamentous fungi offering different benefits to fish including growth promotion, inhibition of pathogen colonisation, and improvement of nutrient digestion, water quality, and stress tolerance, as well as enhancement of reproduction. For these reasons, this review aims to identify the main trends in probiotic amendment in freshwater fishes. Strategies to incorporate the probiotic strains in the fish feed or pellets to allow optimal viability of the strains as they reach the fish gastrointestinal tract (GIT) are crucial in probiotic research and commercial applications for freshwater fish.