Dietary supplementation with Bacillus subtilis LT3‐1 enhance the growth, immunity and disease resistance against Streptococcus agalactiae infection in genetically improved farmed tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus

Abstract

A feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effect of different levels of Bacillus subtilis LT3‐1 in diets on growth, immune parameters, intestinal morphology and disease resistance in genetically improved farmed tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. Fish (46.91 ± 0.17 g) were fed with a basal diet supplemented with B. subtilis LT3‐1 at 0 (B0), 3.8 × 10¹⁰ (B1), 7.6 × 10¹⁰ (B2), 1.14 × 10¹¹ (B3) and 1.52 × 10¹¹ (B4) CFU kg⁻¹ for 6 weeks. The results showed that the weight gain of fish in B1 group was significantly enhanced compared to that in B0 group (p < 0.05). The addition of B. subtilis significantly affected serum biochemical indices (total protein, albumin, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase). Besides, the haematocrit, total counts of red and white blood cells, as well as the serum catalase and lysozyme activities, were increased, whereas the serum malondialdehyde, the serum immunoglobulin M and complement three contents were reduced. Parameters for intestinal morphology suggested a healthier intestine for the fish fed B. subtilis‐supplemented diets than fish fed the control diet. The survival rate after Streptococcus agalactiae challenge increased in tilapia fed with B. subtilis. The present study demonstrated B. subtilis can effectively improve growth, immunological status and resistance against S. agalactiae infection in tilapia farming.