Evaluation of Lactobacillus plantarum as a water additive on host associated microflora, growth, feed efficiency and immune response of giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man, 1879)

Abstract

A 90-day experiment was conducted by rearing 1020 prawn juveniles (0.54 � 0.03 g) in water supplemented with three different concentrations of probiotic bacteria viz. T1 (107 cfu L�1), T2 (108 cfu L�1), T3 (109 cfu L�1) and the control (C) (unsupplemented water), to evaluate probiotic effect of Lactobacillus plantarum. In the present study, the growth parameters (WG%, SGR) and feed utilization parameters (FCR, PER) significantly improved (P < 0.05) in T3. The growth and feed utilization parameters though improved marginally in T1 and T2, the difference was not significant (P > 0.05) compared to the control. The gastrointestinal Lactobacillus sp. count increased significantly (P < 0.05) in all the treatment groups, whereas the decrease in harmful bacteria was significant (P < 0.05) in T3 compared to the control. Similarly, the Lactobacillus sp. count in culture water increased significantly (P < 0.05) in all the experimental groups, whereas the decrease in harmful bacteria was significant (P < 0.05) in T2 and T3.