Probiotic Effects of Lactic Acid Bacteria Against Vibrio Alginolyticus in Penaeus (Fenneropenaeus) Indicus (H.Milne Edwards)

Abstract

Cell free extracts of four strains of Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) viz. Lactobacillus. acidophi-lus, Streptococcus.cremoris, Lactobacillus bulgaricus-56 and Lactobacillus bulgaricus-57 inhibited growth of Vibrio alginolyticus in nutrient broth. The antagonism of LAB to Vibrio alginolyticus was further confirmed by streak plating wherein suppression of growth of Vibrio was obtained. Juveniles of Penaeus indicus (average weight 0.985 ± 0.1 g) on administering orally a moist feed base containing 5 × 10 6 cells·g of the four LAB probionts for a period of four weeks showed better survival (56 to 72%) when challenged with V. alginolyticus by intra-muscular injection of 0.1 ml containing 3 × 10 9 cells·ml. Animals maintained on a diet devoid of bacterial biomass exhibited 80% mortality. No external or internal pathological changes were observed in shrimp fed with the LAB incorporated diets. Results showed inhibition of V. alginolyticus by LAB and stimulation of the non-specific immune response resulting in resistance to disease in the shrimp fed on LAB incorporated diets.