Effects of Pediococcus pentosaceus supplementation on growth performance, intestinal microflora and disease resistance of white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei

Litopenaeus vannamei is economically important shrimp species in worldwide aquaculture. This study was conducted to assess the effect of different levels of probiotic Pediococcus pentosaceus ( PP ) on growth performance, feed utilization, digestive enzyme activity, intestinal microflora count and body composition of L. vannamei . Four diets containing different concentrations [0 ( PP 0), 10 6 ( PPI ), 10 7 ( PPII ) and 10 8 ( PPIII ) CFU /g] of PP were formulated. After 8 weeks feeding trial, the experimental shrimps were challenged with Vibrio anguillarum and noted the surveillance. At the end of the feeding trial, the obtained results revealed a significant increase ( p  <   .05) in final body weight, final length, weight gain ( WG ), survival rate, protease and amylase activities, lactobacillus sp. and Bacillus sp. intestinal count, total haemocyte counts ( THC ) and lysozyme activity in PPIII group when compared with the other groups. Similarly, WG , amylase activity, Bacillus sp. count, THC and lysozyme activity were significantly enhanced in case of PPII compared to the control group ( p  <   .05). Interestingly, FCR and Vibrio sp. counts were significantly decreased in case of PPIII group when compared to the other groups ( p  <   .05). Also, significant level of surveillance was noted in the challenging test with V. anguillarum . These results suggested that the P. pentosaceus improved the growth performance, digestive enzyme activity, immunity and tolerance against V. anguillarum of L. vannamei .