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The effect of Pediococcus acidilactici on the gut microbiota and immune status of on‐growing red tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus )
Author(s) -
Ferguson R.M.W.,
Merrifield D.L.,
Harper G.M.,
Rawling M.D.,
Mustafa S.,
Picchietti S.,
Balcázar J.L.,
Davies S.J.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.889
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2672
pISSN - 1364-5072
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2010.04713.x
Subject(s) - pediococcus acidilactici , oreochromis , tilapia , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , probiotic , gut flora , immune system , food science , pediococcus , bacteria , lactobacillus , immunology , fishery , lactic acid , fish <actinopterygii> , fermentation , genetics , lactobacillus plantarum
Aim: To assess Pediococcus acidilactici as a dietary supplement for on‐growing red tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus ). Methods and Results: Tilapia were fed either a control diet or control diet supplemented with Ped. acidilactici at 10 7 CFU g −1 for 32 days. Ped. acidilactici colonized the intestinal tract and significantly affected the intestinal microbial communities. PCR‐DGGE revealed direct antagonism of gastric Ped . acidilactici with an endogenous uncultured bacterium during a period of reverting to nonsupplemented feeding. Light microscopy revealed that gut integrity and leucocyte levels were unaffected by Ped. acidilactici ; however, blood leucocyte levels and serum lysozyme activity were elevated after 14‐days' feeding. No significant improvements in growth performance were observed at the end of the trial (day 32), but survival was significantly higher in the probiotic group. Conclusions: The study demonstrates that oral supplementation of Ped. acidilactici modulates intestinal bacterial communities in on‐growing red tilapia and also stimulates some aspects of the nonspecific immune response. Significance and Impact of the study: To our knowledge this is the first study assessing the effects of probiotics on the gut microbiota of tilapia using culture‐independent methods. Such methods are crucial to understand the mechanisms which underpin and mediate host benefits.