| Journal: |
Frontiers in Marine Science
frontiersin.org
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| Abstract: |
This study evaluated the effects of a probiotic blend of Bacillus subtilis and
Bacillus licheniformis, administered as a water additive, on the growth
performance, feed efficiency, body composition, blood biochemistry,
histology, gene expression, and resistance to Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection
in Sparus aurata fingerlings. A total of 240 healthy fingerlings (6.10 ± 0.06 g) were
distributed into 12 tanks (3 tanks per group), with 20 fish per tank. Over a period of
10 weeks, the fish were exposed to four treatments with increasing probiotic
concentrations (0, 0.01, 0.02, and 0.03 g/m³), designated as Control, BSL1, BSL2,
and BSL3, respectively. The water additives of BSL significantly increased the
dissolved oxygen (mg/L) in a dose-dependent manner, while the values of TAN
were significantly reduced by increasing the levels of BSL in the water. The NH3
levels were the lowest in BSL2 and BSL3 compared to other groups; however,
BSL1 was lower than the control group. The BSL3 group exhibited higher growth
performance (final body weight, BWG, survival rate) compared to the other
groups (P < 0.05). Adding BSL significantly improved the crude protein and ash
content in S. aurata, while it significantly reduced the lipid content (P<0.05). BSL
also significantly improved blood hematology parameters (PCV, RBCs, and Hb)
and immune responses (phagocytic activity, phagocytic index, lysozyme activity,
IgM, total Ig, and WBCs) in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05) compared to the
control group. Blood biochemical parameters (Total protein, albumin, globulin,
and glucose), digestive enzymes (amylase and lipase) and antioxidant status (TAC,
SOD, CAT) were significantly increased in a dose-dependent manner with
increasing levels of probiotic in the water (P<0.05). Liver enzymes and MDA
were significantly decreased by BSL-water addition (P<0.05). BSL enhanced the
intestinal structure integrity of Sparus aurata. The addition of B. subtilis and B.
licheniformis probiotics significantly improved the growth factors (IGF-1, IGF-2,
and GHR) and immune-related genes (TNF-a, IL-1b, and IL-10) compared to the
control group (P<0.05) in a dose-dependent manner. Importantly, probiotictreated
fish exhibited increased resistance to V. parahaemolyticus infection.
These findings suggest that water addition of Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus
licheniformis probiotics at a concentration of 0.2-0.3g/m3 improved the
growth and overall health of Sparus aurata by regulating the immune
responses and antioxidant status.
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