Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
2
Probiotics in the Larval Culture
of Aquatic Organisms
Bruno Gomez-Gil, 1, * Ana Roque 2 and Sonia Soto-Rodriguez 1
INTRODUCTION
Diseases have been one of the major problems that affect any aquaculture
enterprise and methods to control or eradicate them have been used widely
with varying results. The most common methods of control are better
management practices, vaccines, and the use of chemical compounds that
eradicate or limit the growth of pathogens.
The control of bacterial pathogens has largely been done with the use
of chemotherapeutants, particularly with antibiotics and antimicrobials in
general. Antimicrobial use in larviculture of aquatic animals is especially
intense and are usually applied directly into the rearing water. The use
of antibiotics has been proven to affect the performance and survival of
larvae (Soto-Rodriguez et al., 2006; Williams et al., 1992) and some authors
have mentioned the risk of bacterial resistance (Sarter et al., 2007; Sarter
and Guichard, 2009).
Resistance to these chemicals has been found in bacterial strains
isolated from cultured aquatic organisms and facilities (Hernandez-
Serrano, 2005; Sarter et al., 2007) although a direct link between use of
antibiotics in aquaculture and acquisition and development of resistance
have seldom been proven (WHO, 2006). Nevertheless, academia and the
industry are looking for new ways to control infectious diseases. Since
many microorganisms are able to out-compete, kill or inhibit the growth
of others, it seems reasonable to presume that some benefi cial bacteria are
also capable of exerting these tasks against pathogenic bacteria inside the
1 CIAD, A.C. Mazatlan Unit for Aquaculture and Environmental Management. AP 711 Mazatlan,
Sinaloa, Mexico 82000
2 IRTA-Sant Carles de la Rápita, Crta. Poble Nou, Km 5.5, Sant Carles de la Rápita, Spain 43540
*Corresponding author: E-mail: bruno@ciad.mx
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