Probiotics in Shrimp Aquaculture

Probiotics are live microorganisms administered via feed or water to confer health benefits on shrimp by modulating gut microbiota, enhancing digestive enzyme activity and stimulating innate immunity. In intensive shrimp farming, disease outbreaks caused by bacterial and viral pathogens can devastate production. Probiotic applications aim to reduce reliance on antibiotics, improve water quality through nutrient cycling and suppress pathogens via competitive exclusion and the production of antimicrobial compounds. Strain selection focuses on host adaptation, safety and functional traits such as enzyme secretion, biofilm disruption and immunostimulation. Globally, probiotics offer a sustainable approach to bolster shrimp growth, survival and resilience under environmental stress, contributing to food security and economic stability in coastal communities.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Dietary supplementation with Pediococcus pentosaceus MR001 has demonstrated significant benefits for Pacific white shrimp. In controlled feeding trials, inclusion of this strain led to enhanced weight gain, elevated activities of amylase and protease and improved gut histology, with villus integrity maintained under challenge. Shrimp receiving the probiotic diet showed upregulated expression of immune‐related genes and higher survival rates when exposed to pathogenic Vibrio species. Whole‐genome sequencing of P. pentosaceus MR001 revealed a circular chromosome encoding bacteriocin biosynthesis clusters, stress resistance factors and bile‐tolerance genes, underlining its functional potential and safety profile for shrimp diet supplementation.

Probiotics in Shrimp Aquaculture publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in probiotics in shrimp aquaculture across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Probiotic: Live microorganism that, when administered in adequate amounts, confers a health benefit on the host.

Bacteriocin: Ribosomally synthesized peptide produced by bacteria that inhibits the growth of closely related or pathogenic microorganisms.

Antimicrobial peptide (AMP): Short, generally cationic peptide with broad‐spectrum activity against bacteria, fungi or viruses, produced by hosts or microbes.

Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Disease (AHPND): Severe bacterial disease of shrimp caused by specific Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains, leading to mass mortality in affected populations.

References

1. Probiotics in shellfish aquaculture. Aquaculture and Fisheries (2020).
2. Probiotics and competitive exclusion of pathogens in shrimp aquaculture. Reviews in Aquaculture (2020).
3. Complete genome sequence and characterization of a novel Enterococcus faecium with probiotic potential isolated from the gut of Litopenaeus vannamei. Microbial Genomics (2023).
4. Evaluation of Bacillus spp. as Potent Probiotics with Reduction in AHPND-Related Mortality and Facilitating Growth Performance of Pacific White Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) Farms. Microorganisms (2023).
5. Evaluation of probiotic characteristics and whole genome analysis of Pediococcus pentosaceus MR001 for use as probiotic bacteria in shrimp aquaculture. Scientific Reports (2021).