Effects of a probiotic bacterium on black tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon survival and growth

Bacillus S11 bacterium isolated from black tiger shrimp habitats was added to shrimp feed as a probiotic in three forms: fresh cells, fresh cells in normal saline solution, and a lyophilized form. After a 100-day feeding trial with probiotic supplemented and non-supplemented (control) feeds, Penaeus monodon (from PL30) exhibited no significant difference (p > 0.05) in growth, survival nor external appearance between all three probiotic treatments, but significant differences (p < 0.05) occurred between probiotic and control groups. After challenging shrimps with a shrimp pathogen, Vibrio harveyi, by immersion for 10 days, all probiotic treatment groups had 100% survival; whereas the control group had only 26% survival. In addition, the control group had an unhealthy external appearance, and deformed texture of the hepatopancreas and intestine, while treatment group shrimp appeared healthy and normal. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.