The aim of this study was to assess the
effect of a probiotic (Lactobacillus plantarum) supplemented
diet on Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)
in a polyculture system with marine shrimp
(Litopenaeus vannamei) as regards culture performance,
hematology, and gut bacterial microbiota.
Ten 20-m2 pens were arranged in one earthen pond
and stocked with 2 fish (41.9 g) m-2 and 10 shrimp
(2.3 g) m-2, in total of 40 Nile tilapias and 200
shrimp per experimental unit. Tilapia groups in five
of the experimental units were fed a commercial diet
supplemented with L. plantarum and the other five
with an unsupplemented commercial diet (control).
After 12 weeks of culture, the tilapia groups fed the
probiotic-supplemented diet presented values 13.6,
7.5, and 7.1% higher for feed efficiency, yield, and
final weight, respectively. Viable culturable heterotrophic
bacteria counts were reduced, and the number
of lactic acid bacteria was increased in the gut of fish
and shrimp fed the probiotic-supplemented diet.
Hematological analyses showed higher number of
thrombocytes and leukocytes in tilapia fed the
supplemented diet. L. plantarum utilized in this study
colonized the gut of tilapia and shrimp and resulted in
reduced number of total bacteria and increased tilapia
final weight and feed efficiency