Screening of lactic acid bacteria from the gut of Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus for use as probiotics in aquaculture production

Abstract

Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) namely Lactobacillus plantarum1 and Lactobacillus pentosus were isolated from the gut of Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus and identified using Bergey’s manual of determinative bacteriology (API-50 CHL, BioMérìeux). They are beneficial and safe organisms that improve disturbances of the indigenous microflora and host’s immune system. Gut removed from fish samples were dissected and divided into 3 regions: Fore gut, mid gut and hind gut. Lactobacillus plantarum1 and Lactobacillus pentosus were isolated from these regions using MRS (de Man, Rogosa and Sharpe) agar and broth after subsequent culture and sub culture to obtain discrete colonies. They were characterised as Gram-positive, non-motile, catalase negative and non sporulating bacteria.