Probiotic Applications in Temperate and Warm Water Fish Species - Aquaculture Nutrition: Gut Health, Probiotics and Prebiotics - page 253

10 Probiotic Applications in Temperate

and Warm Water Fish Species

Oliana Carnevali 1 , Yun-Zhang Sun 2 , Daniel L. Merrifield 3 ,
Zhigang Zhou 4 and Simona Picchietti 5
1 Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle
Marche, Ancona, Italy
2 Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen, PR China
3 School of Biological Sciences, Plymouth University, UK
4 Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, PR China
5 Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest Systems, University of
Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy

ABSTRACT

Environmentally friendly aquaculture practices have seen the introduction of beneficial bacte-
ria, such as probiotics, in the last decade. Probiotics are generally defined as live microbial feed
supplements that can benefit the host by modulating the gut microbiota. The endogenous gut
microbiotas of fish are integral in mediating the development, maintenance and effective func-
tionality of the intestinal mucosa and gut associated lymphoid tissues (GALT). These microbial
populations also provide a level of protection against pathogenic visitors to the gastrointestinal
(GI) tract and aid host digestive function via the production of exogenous digestive enzymes
and vitamins. Applications of probiotics to temperate and warm water teleosts can stimulate
immune responses and enhance growth performance, feed utilization, digestive enzyme activ-
ities, antioxidant enzyme activities, disease resistance, larval survival and gut morphology, as
well as modulate gene expression and the gut microbiota. They have the potential to elevate
the innate defence mechanisms of fish and improve survival following exposure to a number
of pathogens. In addition, recent studies have shown the probiotic potential to improve wel-
fare and reproductive success. The studies available on probiotic applications for important
temperate and warm water teleosts are discussed in the present review.

10.1 INTRODUCTION

The modern aquaculture industry demands strategies which help to maintain a microbiologi-
cally healthy environment to enhance production and profitability. In this context the ban on