Effect of different probiotic diets on microbial gut characterization and gene expression of Litopenaeus vannamei cultivated in BFT system

Abstract

Microbial communities, mainly those with probiotic characteristics, positively affect the culture of diverse organisms, including shrimp. In this study, three diets containing different types of probiotics were evaluated on the composition and diversity of the microbial community in the water column and gut of Litopenaeus vannamei, as well as on the expression of genes related to the immune system and resistance of the organisms after being challenged with WSSV and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Results showed that probiotics affected the microbial community structure in water and shrimp. The expression of beta-glucan binding protein and prophenoloxidase increased in the treatments with probiotics compared to the control before and after the challenge. Overall the survival of shrimp was higher in all the treatments than in control. Results suggest that using probiotics in BFT systems could provide an extra benefit for these kinds of systems.