Abstract

The application of effective probiotics in shrimp aquaculture is an excellent alternative for chemicals and antibiotics to prevent disease control. This study was carried out to evaluate the probiotic potential of Lactobacillus acidophilus 04 (home made curd isolate) on pathogenic Vibrio in shrimp Penaeus monodon juveniles. L. acidophilusshowed antibacterial activity against Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio harveyi and Vibrio alginolyticus. The probiotic effect of L. acidophilus was tested by feeding juvenile shrimp (P. monodon) through feed (supplemented with 10⁵ CFU g^-1) for 30 days before and after an immersion challenge with V. alginolyticus at 10⁵ CFU mL^-1. Shrimp survival was determined after 10 days of challenge. The treatment withL. acidophilus 04 resulted in 20% final mortality as compared to 86.7% in the control group. Results of the study validated L. acidophilus 04 has potential probiotic principles to control pathogenic V. alginolyticus in shrimp aquaculture.

Key words: Lactobacillus acidophilus, probiotic, shrimp, vibriosis