Hi guys! I hope you are doing well. I am back with a very new and exciting topic.
After completing my postgraduate degree, I got an exciting job offer in the aquaculture industry. I work as a technician in the Shrimp farming industry in addition to sales and marketing of Aqua products. It includes feeds and Aquatic health care products.
At present, I am under training period to enrich my technical knowledge. While getting updated knowledge, I deal with “Aquaculture probiotics”. It plays a significant role in shrimp framing.
A well-known term “gut probiotics” refers to what we consume for poor intestine microflora that leads to dysentery. “probiotics” in the shrimp industry has a different Meaning I Hope this article helps you to understand its role in the shrimp industry.
What is probiotics?
In layman’s terms “Group of microorganisms which is very beneficial to improve the health of animals.”
Technically speaking it is a group of bacteria and yeast that have beneficial effects on the body.
How are probiotics helpful in our lives (Humans)?
In our body probiotics play a crucial role in helping to develop positive bacteria in our digestive system. Helps to get out of constipation, treats diarrhoea, improves mental health, helps good heart health and helps to cure allergies etc.
This probiotic is consumed by humans via powder, liquid fermented foods etc.
How are probiotics useful in Aquaculture?
Probiotics in Aquaculture play a vital role similar to human probiotics, but it has diversified roles with different types.
Technically speaking “Addition of live autochthonous bacteria to tanks, ponds in which animals live and through feed additives for the gut of aquatic animals”.
There are 3 types of Probiotics in Aquaculture.
Gut probiotics
enhances growth, improve digestion and strengthen the immune system. It is given in feed supplement.
Water probiotics
Improves quality of water with the help of the competitive inhibition principle which makes pathogenic bacteria lose their capability of multiplication, neutralizes toxins in water and maintains the Nitrogen cycle to reduce toxicity of Ammonia and Nitrite. It is given as fermented juice mostly/ broodcasting.
Soil probiotics
It majorly helps to maintain pond bottom, neutralizes hydrogen sulphide gas and digests sludge that maintains good bottom conditions. It is given along mostly with sand/lime.
The above all types of probiotics play a vital role in enhancing Aquaculture production.
Why has probiotics gained its importance in Aquaculture?
A Straightforward answer is to eradicate the use of “ANTIBIOTICS” which is used for eliminating pathogenic bacteria. Antibiotic resistance Threats the world., Due to that use of antibiotics is banned in the Indian Aquaculture (shrimp) industry.
Replacing antibiotics with “probiotics” gained traction in the Aquaculture industry. It gives far better sustainable farming practices, which leads to good export products. Many countries have banned importing antibiotic strains in fish and shrimp frozen products, which makes sure of the quality of products that lack antibiotics.
Aquaculture probiotics vs human probiotics
Many scientists have come up with the definitions of probiotics in both fields
Some basics outline is given by scientists :
The term probiotic, meaning “for life,” is derived from
the Greek language “pro” and “bios” – Gismondo et al.
1999.
“Substances secreted by one microorganism which stimulates the growth of another” – Lilly and Stillwell 1965
For Aquaculture Verschuere et al – 2000 opted fine definition (purely My Point of view)
“A probiotic is defined as a live microbial adjunct that has a beneficial effect on the host by modifying the host-associated or ambient microbial community, by ensuring improved of feed or enhancing nutritional valve by enhancing host response towards the disease or by improving the quality of the ambient environment.”
The term ‘probiotic’ was originally coined as an antonym of antibiotics, since probiotics are beneficial microorganisms that selectively proliferate to exclude competitively the harmful microbes. It may be because of this positive and
general claim of definition that the term probiotic was subsequently applied to other subjects and gained a more general meaning.
In both fields, probiotics play a vital role in improving the economy”. Aquaculture solely depends on probiotics when Post larvae enter into farm environment, for the elimination of the pathogen. Human probiotics are also made its importance in improving our sapiens race in a healthy manner.
Hope you now get a good idea on Human and Aquaculture probiotics.
Though forms of probiotics in those fields are different their role in improving, maintaining and profitability to us is constant.
Expertise inZebrafish biology and shrimp farming(Vannamei).
Well trained in Zebrafish larval rearing and embryos toxicology.
Having 1.5 years of experience at providing Technical support for farmers.
Focus area on Bio-floc, Nursery, high density and extensive cultures.
Passionate in Science communication( Blogging and Teaching)