Combining a probiotic with organic salts presents synergistic in vitro inhibition against aquaculture bacterial pathogens

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate 1) the in vitro effect of organic salts on the growth of the probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum and then 2) the combined use of a probiotic with organic salts on the in vitro inhibition of V. alginolyticus, A. hydrophila, E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and S. agalactiae. In vitro tests were performed with eight different organic salts, including butyrate, propionate, succinate, citrate, formate, fumarate, glutamate, and acetate, at two pH values (6.2 and 7.1) to determine their effect on the growth kinetics of L. plantarum. In addition, each organic salt was tested alone and in combination with L. plantarum to evaluate the inhibitory effect against the pathogenic bacteria noted above in either condition. Sodium citrate and formate inhibited the growth of L. plantarum, but sodium glutamate, succinate and fumarate stimulated it. Sodium propionate, butyrate, and acetate did not affect probiotic growth at all. Inhibition against all pathogens was significantly higher in the presence of the probiotic and lower pH. Comparing all organic salts at the two pH values, butyrate, acetate, and propionate exhibited more inhibition against V. alginolyticus than the others, while propionate had higher inhibition against A. hydrophila, E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and fumarate successfully inhibited S. agalactiae. Based on these results, it can be concluded that organic salts showed better in vitro inhibition against the aquaculture pathogenic bacteria tested when combined with the probiotic L. plantarum.

Probiotic supplementation in diet and vaccination of hybrid surubim (Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum♀ x P. corruscans♂) / Suplementação de probiótico na dieta e vacinação de surubim híbrido (Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum♀ x P. corruscans♂)

ABSTRACT: A supplementary diet with the probiotic bacteria Weissella cibaria on the efficacy of surubim hybrid immunization against a specific hemorrhagic septicemia caused by Aeromonas hydrophila was evaluated on the following treatments: fish fed a supplemented probiotic diet, vaccinated fish and vaccinated fish fed a supplemented probiotic diet, and untreated fish (control). Fish from the probiotic treatments were fed a diet containing W. cibaria for 41 days. On the 15th day of the experiment, fish from vaccine treatments were intraperitoneally vaccinated, with posterior oral booster for four days. One week after the oral booster, three fish from each experimental unit were sampled. The probiotic supplementation increased the number of thrombocytes and lysozyme concentration compared with surubim that did not receive W. cibaria in the diet. On the other hand, the vaccination increased agglutination titer, lysozyme concentration, and antimicrobial activity compared with surubim that were not vaccinated. However, there was no interaction between diet with probiotics and vaccination in the surubim hybrid in the analysed parameters.

RESUMO: A dieta suplementada com a bactéria probiótica Weissella cibaria sobre a eficácia da imunização de surubim híbrido contra a septicemia hemorrágica específica, causada por Aeromonas hydrophila, foi avaliada nos seguintes tratamentos: peixes alimentados com a dieta suplementada com probiótico, peixes vacinados, peixe vacinadas que receberam um probiótico na dieta e peixes não tratados (controle). Peixes dos tratamentos probióticos foram alimentados com uma dieta contendo W. cibaria por 41 dias. No 15o dia do experimento, os peixes dos tratamentos de vacinas foram vacinados intraperitonealmente, com posterior reforço oral por quatro dias. Uma semana após o reforço oral, três peixes de cada unidade experimental foram amostrados. A suplementação de probiótico aumentou o número de trombócitos e concentração lisozima em comparação com surubins que não receberam W. cibaria na dieta. Por outro lado, a vacinação influenciou no aumento do título de aglutinação, a concentração de lisozima e a atividade antimicrobiana, em comparação com os surubins que não foram vacinados. No entanto, não houve interação entre a dieta com probióticos e vacinação no híbrido surubim nos parâmetros analisados.

Utilização comparativa de enrofloxacino, probiótico (Lactobacilus plantarum) e propionato de sódio na larvicultura de camarão branco do pacífico / Comparative use of enrofloxacin, probiotic (Lactobacillus plantarum) and sodium propionate in pacific white shrimp larvae / Utilización comparativa de enrofloxacino, probiótico (Lactobacillus plantarum) y propionato de sodio en larvicultura de camarón blanco del pacífico

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar métodos de controle e tratamento de bacterioses na larvicultura de Litopenaeus vannamei, avaliando o uso contínuo de probiótico e o uso pontual de enrofloxacino 15mg.L-1 e propionato de sódio 0,5 mM.L-1 nos momentos de metamorfose sobre os, parâmetros zootécnicos e microbiológicos (larvas e da água). Foram utilizadas 16 unidades de 60L, povoadas na densidade de 325 náuplios.5L-1, divididos em três tratamentos: enrofloxacino, probiótico, propionato de sódio e controle. O enrofloxacino e o propionato foram ministrados em protozoea 3, misis 3 e pós-larva 4 e o probiótico foi ministrado na ração ao longo de todo o experimento. O probiótico aumentou as contagens de bactérias ácido-láticas em relação aos demais tratamentos na água de cultivo (p=0,00001) e em relação ao enrofloxacino e o proprionato nas larvas (p=0,0048). A água do tratamento com probiótico apresentou menor contagem de Vibrio spp. que o enrofloxacino (p=0,0011) e as larvas tratadas com probiótico apresentaram menor contagem de Vibrio spp. que o propionato (p=0,0158). Contudo, não foi observada diferença nos índices zootécnicos avaliados. Assim, os aditivos na dose utilizada não alteram parâmetros zootécnicos da larvicultura do camarão L. vannamei.

The purpose of this study was to assess control and treatment methods for bacterial diseases in Litopenaeus vannamei, evaluating the continuous use of probiotics and occasional use of 15mg-L-1 enrofloxacin and 0.5-mM.L-1 sodium propionate at the morphological change moments on the performance and microbiological parameters of larvae and water. A total of 16 60-L units were used, stocked with 325 nauplii/5L-1, divided into three treatments and one control. Enrofloxacin and propionate were administered into protozoea 3, misis 3 and 4, and post-larvae 4, while the probiotic was administered in the feed throughout the experiment. The probiotic increased the counts of lactic acid bacteria in relation to the other treatments in the culture water (p = 0.00001) and in relation to enrofloxacin and propionate in larvae (p = 0.0048). The treatment water with probiotic had lower counts of Vibrio ssp. than enrofloxacin (p = 0.0011) and larvae treated with probiotic showed lower counts of Vibrio ssp. that propionate (p = 0.0158). However, no difference was observed in the performance indexes assessed. Thus, it can be concluded that additives in the assessed doses did not influence the performance parameters of L. vannamei.

El objetivo del presente trabajo fue evaluar métodos de control y tratamiento de enfermedades bacterianas en larvicultura de Litopenaeus vannamei, evaluando el uso continuo de probiótico y el uso puntual de 15 mg.L-1 de enrofloxacino y 0,5 mM.L-1 de propionato de sodio en momentos de metamorfosis sobre los parámetros zootécnicos y microbiológicos (larvas y del agua). Se han utilizado 16 unidades de 60L, pobladas en la densidad de 325 nauplios.5L-1, divididos en tres tratamientos: enrofloxacino, probiótico, propionato de sodio y control. El enrofloxacino y el propionato fueron suministrados en protozoea 3, misis 3 y postlarva 4 y el probiótico suministrado en alimento durante el transcurso del experimento. El probiótico aumentó el contaje de bacterias ácido-lácticas en correlación a los demás tratamientos en agua de cultivo (p=0,0001) y las larvas en relación al enrofloxacino y el propionato en las larvas (p=0,0048). El agua del tratamiento con probiótico presentó menor contaje de Vibrio spp. que el enrofloxacino (p=0,0011) y las larvas tratadas con probiótico presentaron menor contaje de Vibrio spp. que el propionato (p=0,0158). Sin embargo, no se ha observado diferencia en los índices zootécnicos de larvicultura de camarón L. vannamei.

Assessment of viability of sperm cells of Litopenaeus vannamei on cryopreservation

Aiming at assessing the cryopreservation potential of Litopenaeus vannamei sperm cells, 74 spermatophores were manually extracted from the sexually mature individuals. After the toxicity test to define the cryoprotectant concentration, suspensions of spermatic cells were cryopreserved in the groups in freezing solutions comprising different cryoprotectants such as dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and ethylene glycol (EG) at 10% concentration. Each treatment was divided in subgroups for storage in liquid nitrogen during 0, 30, 60 and 90 days, in triplicate. After thawing at 25ºC for 40 seconds, cell viability in the suspensions was analyzed under the microscope in eosin-nigrosin stain and flow cytometry. There were no significant differences between the cryoprotectants used. For all the treatments, lower and higher mortalities occurred in the 0 and 90 days, respectively. By applying the eosin-nigrosin technique, lower and higher mortalities were 23.17 and 82.11% for DMSO and 29.94 and 83.72% for EG, while the flow cytometry registered mortalities of 2.42 and 55.13% for DMSO and 0.90 and 55.56% for EG. The Spearman correlation coefficient indicated a positive correlation (R=0.91) between the two techniques used. It was concluded that there was a decrease in cell viability within a longer cryopreservation time.

Immunization of hybrid surubim (Pseudoplatystoma corruscans x P. fasciatum) against Motile Aeromonas hydrophila septicemia

The aim of this study was to evaluate the immune response of hybrid surubim vaccinated by intraperitoneal injection and by immersion against Aeromonas hydrophila. Vaccine was prepared with formalin-inactivated A. hydrophila. Forty eight fishes (47±9g) were distributed in 12 tanks (4 fish / tank) in the following treatments (4 tanks / treatment): unvaccinated fish, vaccinated intraperitoneally and vaccinated by immersion. After 21 days, intraperitoneally vaccinated fishes showed the highest values of total protein and immunoglobulins, agglutination titer and serum antimicrobial activity. Lysozyme concentration in the serum was higher in the fishes vaccinated by immersion than unvaccinated fishes. Intraperitoneal vaccination induced the highest immune response and could be used to improve the fish resistance against motile Aeromonas.

Cultivation of juvenile fat snook (Centropomus parallelus Poey, 1860) fed probiotic in laboratory conditions

The objective of this study was to investigate the growth of juvenile fat snook (Centropomus parallelus) in laboratory conditions when fed a diet supplemented with the probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum. Changes in the intestinal flora, haematological parameters and growth performance were assessed using 180 fishes (54.2 ± 13.4 g each). The fishes were subjected to two treatments divided into six cages: 1) feed supplemented with probiotic, and 2) feed without probiotic (control). The temperature, dissolved oxygen and salinity were maintained at 25 ± 1 ° C, 4.0 mg.L-1 and 33 ‰, respectively. After 10 weeks of culture, the fishes fed probiotic had reduced viable culturable heterotrophic bacteria and Vibrio spp. and increased lactic acid bacteria in the intestinal tract, as well as a higher number of thrombocytes, leukocytes and lymphocytes in the blood. No significant difference was observed in the growth, survival or body composition, but the hepatosomatic index was significantly higher in the fishes fed with probiotic and control.

Avaliação de bacterina e Lactobacillus plantarum frente à infecção experimental por Vibrio harveyi em pós-larvas de Litopenaeus vannamei / Evaluation of bacterin and Lactobacillus plantarum front an experimental infection of Vibrio harveyi in pos-larvae of Litoenaeus vannamei

Objetivou-se averiguar o efeito da bactéria Lactobacillus plantarum e células inativas das bactérias Vibrio alginolyticus, Aeromonas salmonicida e Pasteurella multocida na sobrevivência larval de Litoenaeus vannamei, no teste de estresse e infecção experimental com Vibrio harveyi. Foram utilizados tanques cônicos de 30 L, povoados com 400 larvas cada, no estádio de pós-larva cinco. Tratamentos em triplicatas foram consistidos de: 1: ração comercial (controle), 2: ração comercial + bacterina via oral na artemia, 3: ração comercial + bacterina via imersãoe 4: ração comercial com inóculo de Lactobacillus plantarum. A aplicação da bacterina ocorreu seis horas antes da infecção e do teste de estresse; enquanto o Lactobacillus plantarum foi administrado por 15 dias antes dos desafios. As pós-larvas do tratamento 4 (ração suplementada com L. plantarum) obtiveram maior índice de sobrevivência no teste de estresse (87,86 ± 2,35%), seguido dos tratamentos 2 e 3 (bacterina via imersão e oral) com 81,54±1,50% e 80,16 ± 2,15% respectivamente, superiores ao índice do controle (72,63 ± 3,34%).Já no desafio com V. harveyi, os animais do grupo tratado com a adição de bacterina via imersão apresentaram maior sobrevivência(79,60 ± 7,12%). As pós-larvas dos tratamentos com bacterina via oral na artêmia e alimentadas com o probiótico L. plantarum,apresentaram sobrevivências de 65,60 ± 5,18% e 69,60 ± 10,43 %,respectivamente, sendo superiores ao controle (56,4 ± 5,58%), quando desafiados com V. harveyi. Os resultados demonstram que ouso de ração com L. plantarum e bacterina aumentam a sobrevivência das pós-larvas de L. vannamei frente aos testes de estresse e infecções experimentais com V. harveyi.

This study aimed to verify the effect of probiotics and inactivated cells of bacterias such as Vibrio alginolyticus, Aeromonas salmonicida and Pasteurella multocida in larvae survival of Litopenaeus vannamei, in stress test and experimental infection with Vibrio harveyi. Conic tanks of 30L, were stocked with 400 post-larvae stage five. Four experimental treatments with triplicates consisted of: 1: commercial feed (control),2: commercial feed plus bacterin by oral administration in artemia, 3:commercial feed plus bacterin by immersion administration, 4:commercial feed with Lactobacillus plantarum inoculation. Bacterin application was conducted 6h before the infection and stress test, while probiotic administration was for 15 days before challenges. In stress test, post-larvae of treatment 4 (commercial feed supplemented with Lactobacillus plantarum) with reached the highest survival rate(87,86 ± 2,35%) followed by the ones of treatment 3 and 2 (bacterimby immersion and bacterim by oral administration in artemia) with 81,54±1, 50% and 80,16 ± 2,15%, respectively, which were superior to the control treatment (72,63 ± 3,34%). Next to V. harveyi challenge, animals from treatment 3 presented the highest survival rate (79,60 ±7,12%) followed by treatments 4 (69,60 ± 10,43%), 2 (65,60 ± 5,18%)and control (56,4 ± 5,58%). All treatments were different from control. The present results demonstrate the possible use of L. plantarum and bacterin as promoters in survival rates of L. vannamei post-larvae in the stress tests and challenges with Vibrio harveyi.

Effect of carbon source on morphology and histodifferentiation of Araucaria angustifolia embryogenic cultures

No presente trabalho foram investigadas as condições para a indução, estabilização e proliferação de culturas embriogênicas de A. angustifolia. Foram também descritos os padrões de morfogênese e histodiferenciação de culturas embriogênicas e embriões somáticos desta espécie em resposta a diferentes fontes e concentrações de carboidratos. Embriões zigóticos no estágio pré-cotiledonar, inoculados em meio de cultura BM, suplementados com 5 µM de 2,4-D, 2 µM de BAP e Kin e 3% de maltose ou sacarose resultaram em uma taxa de indução de 66,7%. A fonte de carbono afetou a taxa de indução, a multiplicação e a morfologia das culturas. Culturas embriogênicas mantidas em meio de cultura BM suplementado com maltose apresentaram morfologia bipolar. Embriões somáticos globulares foram obtidos em meio de cultura BM suplementado com PEG e maltose. Os resultados obtidos permitirão avançar na direção de um protocolo regenerativo in vitro visando à conservação e o melhoramento genético desta espécie.