Probiotic Applications in Temperate and Warm Water Fish Species - Aquaculture Nutrition: Gut Health, Probiotics and Prebiotics - page 264

utilization were significantly higher in fish receiving probiotics than in those fed the control
diet. No differences were observed in proximal composition, though significantly higher lipid
muscle content was present in fish receiving Pdp13. Those fish also exhibited higher activities
of alkaline phosphatase when compared to Pdp11 and control groups. Recently, similar results
were obtained by de La Banda et al . (2012) by the administration of Sh. putrefaciens (Pdp11).
This latter study aimed to elucidate the effects of fresh and lyophilized probiotic cells incorpo-
rated into fish feed at 10 9 cells g -1 : both fresh and lyophilized Pdp11 were provided to juvenile
Senegalese sole for 60 days. Growth rates were significantly higher in fish fed the fresh probi-
otic compared with fish fed the control diet. The growth of fish receiving lyophilized bacteria
was similar to that of the control. Body fatty acids profile, total lipids and protein levels were
not different among the dietary treatments. These findings suggest that the alteration of micro-
bial composition and activity, as likely to occur more rapidly with fresh cells, may be partly
responsible for improved digestive function.
Beneficial effects of probiotic administration were also observed in Solea solea by Avella
et al . (2011). The administration of the E. faecium IMC 511 isolated from common sole brood
stock as a probiotic in the farming of Soleasolea larvae and juveniles evidenced the high poten-
tiality of this strain. E. faecium IMC 511 was administered twice daily to sole larvae through
live feeds, at the final concentration of 10 3 or 10 5 CFU ml -1 . Five groups were established:
group 1 was the control under a standard feeding regime; group 2 was fed E. faecium IMC 511
supplied from the opening of the mouth (2dph) at the final concentration of 10 3 CFU ml -1 ;
group 3 was supplied E. faecium IMC 511 from the first day of cofeeding (11 dph) at the final
concentration of 10 3 CFU ml -1 ; group 4 was supplied E. faecium IMC 511 from the opening
of the mouth (2dph) at the final concentration of 10 5 CFU ml -1 ; and group 5 was supplied
E. faecium IMC 511 from the first day of co-feeding (11 dph) at the final concentration of
10 5 CFU ml -1 . After 50 days administration, probiotic treated sole juveniles had significantly
higher body weight and total length. In particular, all probiotic treated groups had significantly
higher total length than the control, but no significant differences were observed among the
probiotic groups. The body weights of all probiotic treated groups were significantly higher
than the control and the higher concentration of probiotic (10 5 CFU ml -1 ) induced the highest
body weight increase. No significant differences were found among the early treated groups
(groups 2 and 4) and those administered at the first cofeeding (groups 3 and 5). These results
were supported by the molecular data showing a significant decrease of myostatin gene expres-
sion in probiotic fed larvae with respect to the control group. Survival was not affected but
HSP70 mRNA levels were significantly reduced in probiotic fed larvae with respect to the
control group, suggesting a better tolerance of the farm conditions in fish fed the probiotic.
This hypothesis was in contrast with cortisol levels which were found to be significantly higher
after 10 days of treatment in probiotic fed larvae (Palermo et al . 2011), while on days 30 and
50 the levels were similar among all experimental groups. The study suggests that 50 days of
probiotic treatment may improve common sole larval growth but not survival.
10.4.2 Effects on survival and the immune system
In order to prevent bacterial diseases which usually hamper intensive sole farming, some
studies have sought to isolate bacterial strains with antagonistic activity to sole pathogenic
bacteria (Chabrillón etal . 2005a; 2005b). In particular, Chabrillón etal . (2005b) demonstrated
the efficacy of dietary supplemented Sh. putrefaciens (strain Pdp11) to reduce Vibrio harveyi