Juvenile Pacific white shrimp 'Litopenaeus vannamei'. Growth performance with lactic acid bacteria 'Pediococcus acidilactici'

Bachelor Thesis from the year 2018 in the subject Biology - Zoology, grade: 1.25, , course: Bachelor of Science in Fisheries, language: English, abstract: The study generally aims to evaluate the probiotic effects of the different concentrations of 'Pediococcus acidilactici' incorporated in the feeds of juvenile white shrimp ('Litopenaeus vannamei'), in terms of growth performance and survival. Specifically, the study is designed to determine which of the probiotic concentrations fed to the shrimps is the optimum concentration. Also, it conducts carcass analyses (moisture, lipid, protein and ash) to evaluate the nutritive potential of Pediococcus acidilactici as probiotics in the diets of juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei. In this study, the use of lactic acid bacteria 'Pediococcus acidilactici' was tested as probiotics incorporated in the feeds of juvenile white shrimp ('Litopenaeus vannamei'). 'Pediococcus acidilactici' is a facultative anaerobe bacteria that displays antagonism against pathogens using lactic acid and secretion of bacteria-killing substances. It can also enhance immune responses towards infectious coccidioidal diseases. 'P. acidilactici' was also observed to alleviate vertebral column compression syndrome, elevate blood leucocyte levels, improve intestinal microvilli morphology and increase enterocyte endocytic activity in rainbow trout 'Oncorhynchus mykiss' and improve weight gain, survival, feed conversion ratio and haemolymph total antioxidant status in shrimp.