Effect of probiotic bacteria on survival and growth of Cortez oyster larvae, Crassostrea corteziensis (Bivalvia: Ostreidae)

Abstract

Effect of probiotic bacteria on survival and growth of Cortez oyster larvae, Crassostrea corteziensis (Bivalvia: Ostreidae). Disease control problems have major constraints in aquaculture production. and the use of probiotics in larviculture is a valid alternative to antibiotics. This study analyzed the effect of probiotic bacteria on survival and final size of Cortez oyster larvae Crassostrea corteziensis. Two different probiotic concentrations were evaluated, 1x10(4) and 1x10(5)CFU/ml of Lactic acid bacteria (strain NS61) isolated from Nodipecten subnodosus, and bacilli isolated from the white leg shrimp. Litopenaeus vannamei (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, strain YC58) and C. corteziensis (Burkholderia cepacia, strain Y021). Bacteria were aided directly into culture tanks, starting the bioassays from veliger to pediveliger stages as follows: (1) Cot trol, without probiotics; (2) lactic acid bacteria (Lb); (3) bacilli mix (Mb) in a proportion 1:1. Results showed a higher larval survival with Lb and Mb at a dose of 1x10(4)CFU/ml compared to the control group. Larvae exposed to Mb at 1x10(5)CFU/ml showed higher survival than Lb and control. Larval final size was not significantly increased with the tested probiotics, but larvae treated with Lb at 1x10(5)CFU/ml showed less survival rate than those treated at 1x10(4)CFU/ml. This study showed the beneficial effect of these probiotics, added individually of mixed in C. corteziensis larvae culture. Rev. Biol. Trop. 59(1): 183-191. Epub 2011 March 01.