Global production of the species Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus ) has grown significantly considering the multiple pathogen related challenges evidenced worldwide (FAO, 2024). However, quality and efficiency of feeds are prerequisites for successful Nile tilapia production. In addition, feed acceptability and utilization have significant impact on water quality, growth, survival, and ultimately production of this specie.
Probiotics are reported to improve immune responses, feed utilization and to modulate the intestinal morphological structure and microbiota, thereby influencing the health status of cultured fishes. In our study, a new multispecies probiotic formulation (Slab51®) was employed to evaluate the effect of supplementation on growth and immunity performances, feed utilization and intestinal morphometry of Nile tilapia.
Three separate trials of 60 days were conducted in which Tilapia larvae (0.08 ± 0.02 g) were randomly distributed into three replicate aquaria under two different treatments + control groups. The control group received normal feeding at 9% of the biomass (C), the feeding treatment (F) received Slab51 at a supplementation of 3.5% of the control diet and the water treatment (W) received a daily dosage of 6 grams of Slab51 powder in each tank to maintain a bacteria concentration of 10 7 CFU/L. At the end of the feeding trials , growth performance and water quality parameters, feed utilization indices, immunity activity and intestinal morphology were assessed.
The results obtained from this study revealed promising results on the use of the probiotic formulation as supplement in Nile Tilapia larvae and f ingerlings. Significant results were evidenced on growth performance, feed conversion rate, intestinal mucosal fold, width of lamina propria, number of goblet cells and others such as: