Use of Lactic Acid Bacteria as Probiotic for Promoting Growth and Nutrient Utilization in Nile Tilapia <em>Oreochromis Niloticus</em>

Abstract

The Lactic acid bacteria strains isolated from O. niloticus were evaluated for their probiotic activity. The strain which showed the greatest promise as probiotics was selected for growth study. Oreochromis niloticus (mean weight 18.11±0.12g) were randomly distributed to five treatments representing probiotic inclusion level at 0.25% inclusion in diets: PD₁-0cfu/ml; PD₂-10³cfu/ml; PD₃-10⁵cfu/ml; PD₄-10⁷cfu/ml and PD₅-10⁹cfu/ml. Fish were fed twice daily at 3% body weight for 90 days. Growth, heamatological and plasma biochemical parameters of the fish were measured. Challenge test was conducted on fish fed probiotic supplemented diets using pathogenic Pseudomonas aeruginosa to assess their disease resistance to the bacterium. The growth in fish was significantly higher (p< 0.05) for probiotic fed O. niloticus than the control. The hematology and blood plasma show significant differences (p< 0.05) in PD₂ – PD₅ when compared to the control. Fish fed PD₅ had the best growth and immunity level.