Effects of Commercial Probiotics on the Growth Performance, Intestinal Microbiota and Intestinal Histomorphology of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Reared in Biofloc Technology (BFT)

Abstract

Though different types of commercial probiotics are supplemented in biofloc technology (BFT), very little information is available on their effects on the farmed fish. Therefore, this study focused on evaluating the effects of three most commonly used commercial probiotics on the growth performance, intestinal histomorphology, and intestinal microbiota of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) reared in BFT. Tilapia fry, with an average weight of 3.02 ± 0.50 g, were stocked at a density of 60 fry/0.2 m3, and cultured for 90 days. Three commercial probiotics were administered, with three replications for each: a single-genus multi-species probiotic (Bacillus spp.) (T1), a multi-genus multi-species probiotic (Bacillus sp., Lactobacillus sp., Nitrosomonas sp., Nitrobacter sp.) (T2), and a multi-species probiotic (Bacillus spp.) combined with enzymes including amylase, protease, cellulase, and xylanase (T3). The results showed significant variations in growth and feed utilization, with T3 outperforming other treatments in terms of weight gain, liver weight, and intestine weight. Adding Bacillus spp. with enzymes (T3) to water significantly increased the histomorphological parameters (villi length, villi depth, crypt depth, muscle thickness, intestinal thickness) as well as microbes (total viable count and total lactic acid bacteria) of intestine of fish compared to T1 and T2, leading to improved digestion and absorption responses. It is concluded that the supplementation of commercial probiotics has potential benefits on farmed fish species in BFT.