Effect of probiotic on larvae shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) based on water quality, survival rate and digestive enzyme activities

The effect of probiotic, B. coagulans SC8168, as water additive on larvae shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) based on water quality, survival rate and digestive enzyme activities was investigated at ontogenetic stages (Z3, M3, PL1–2 and PL7–8). Twelve tanks with three replicates for each treatment group and control group were used. The treatments consisted of three SC8168 levels at an initial concentration of 1.0 × 105 cfu ml− 1 (T-1), 5.0 × 105 cfu ml− 1 (T-2) and 1.0 × 106 cfu ml− 1 (T-3) and one control (without any probiotic), and were conducted every day. Addition of the probiotic significantly increased survival rate (P < 0.05) for all treatments over controls. However, no significant difference was found between T-2 and T-3. At early larval stages (Z3 and M3), protease activity in shrimp was not significantly different among probiotic treatments and control. At the subsequent ontogenetic stages (PL1–2 and PL7–8), the highest protease activity was observed in T-2 and there was a significant difference (P < 0.05) between the treatment and the control. Similar results were observed in T-3 at PL7–8 stage (P < 0.05). Amylase activity in T-2 at Z3, M3, PL1–2 and PL7–8 stages was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that in the control. The amylase activity was also increased significantly (P < 0.05) in T-3 than the control except the M3 stage. As for the lipase activity, assays showed a significant difference (P < 0.05) in groups treated with SC8168 as compared with the control except the initial stage (Z3). However, a concentration response of probiotic strains in T-1, T-2 and T-3 was not observed in the present research. The results from this study suggest that B. coagulans SC8168 supplemented at a certain concentration could significantly increase survival rate and some digestive enzyme activities of P. vannamei larvae.