ABSTRACT
A commercialprobioticcontaining Bacillussubtilis(109 CFU g-1) was evaluated incaged matrinxã,Bryconamazonicus,by measuring hematological parametersand macrophage activity after 42 and 84 days after feeding. The product wasadded tocommercial feed using 2%soybean oil as a protectant. A randomized three-treatmentexperiment was performed using fourreplicates per treatment. The groups included: (a) control without probiotic, (b) 5 g kg-1probiotic, and (c) 10 g kg-1probiotic. Forhematological analysis,eightfishper treatmentwere used to determinetotal cell count (RBC); thrombocytes, differential, and total leukocyte count (TLC); hematocrit (Htc); hemoglobin tax; mean corpuscular volume (MCV); and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). Furthermore, plasma cortisol and glucose levels were measured in blood samples. Macrophage phagocytic activity was evaluated by injecting Saccharomyces cerevisiae(11,000 cells in a 3 mLvolume) into the coelomic cavity incubating for 8hours.Addition of probiotics to the diet of caged matrinxã altered the Htc, RBC, MCV, MCHC, TLC, lymphocyte, and eosinophil values. We observed increased cortisol and glucose levels and phagocytic activity, but no increase in the phagocytic index. We thus conclude that supplementing caged Brycon amazonicuswith probiotics improves their non-specific immunity and alters blood profiles.