Probiotics to protect larval bivalves from pathogenic bacteria.

In some cases, antibiotics are used to fend off bacterial infections causing massive deaths of larval shellfish in the hatchery. There has been a lot of work put into investigating alternative means of avoiding over-use of antibiotics. So, just like having yoghurt for gut health, considerable work has been put into probiotics for aquaculture applications.

Aquaculture
Volume 349, Number 9 (May 2012)
	Protective effect of four potential probiotics against pathogen-challenge of the larvae of three bivalves: Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas), flat oyster (Ostrea edulis) and scallop (Pecten maximus)
	Authors:	Aditya Kesarcodi-Watson, Philippe Miner, Jean-Louis Nicolas, Rene Robert
	Author Affiliations:	no affiliations available
	Source:	Aquaculture, Volume 349, Number 9 (May 2012)
	Page Numbers:	29 – 34
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	Abstract:	Mollusc aquaculture is an important commodity for France with Pacific oysters, flat oysters and the great scallop being the three main species. Pacific oyster larvae production is currently successful, however larval production of flat oyster and scallops regularly face problems remedied by antibiotics. Using a bioassay technique, four potential probiotic strains (Alteromonas macleodii0444, Neptunomonassp. 0536, Phaeobacter gallaeciensis, Pseudoaltermonassp. D41) were tested upon the larvae of the three mollusc species when challenged with pathogens. Pacific oysters and flat oysters were challenged individually with the pathogens Vibrio coralliilyticusand V. pectenicida, while scallops were challenged with V. coralliilyticusand V. splendidus. Survival of the larvae was measured in challenged larvae given the probiotics and those without probiotic. In scallop larvae, protection against V. coralliilyticusand V. splendiduswas provided by prior administration of P. gallaeciensis(29% and 53% better than the respective pathogen controls), A. macleodii0444 (30%, 36%) and Neptunomonassp. 0536 (36%, 55%). Significant protection with Pseudoalteromonassp. D41 was only provided against V. splendidus(35%). In flat oyster larvae, protection against V. coralliilyticusand V. pectenicidawas provided by P. gallaeciensis. (73%, 69%) and A. macleodii0444 (45%, 53%). Neptunomonassp. 0536 provided significant protection only against V. pectenicida(48% higher). Use of Pseudoalteromonassp. D41 did not offer significant protection for flat oyster larvae against either pathogen. Experiments with Pacific oysters suggested that Pseudoalteromonassp. D41 and P. gallaeciensiscould be effective against challenge by V. coralliilyticus(50% and 40% improved survival respectively) but not against V. pectenicida. The results indicate that P. gallaeciensis, A. macleodii0444, Neptunomonassp. 0536 and Pseudoalteromonassp. D41 could be useful in mollusc larviculture.
	Citation:	Aditya Kesarcodi-Watson, Philippe Miner, Jean-Louis Nicolas, Rene Robert . Protective effect of four potential probiotics against pathogen-challenge of the larvae of three bivalves: Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas), flat oyster (Ostrea edulis) and scallop (Pecten maximus). Aquaculture, Volume 349, Number 9 (May 2012), pp. 29-34, <http://ejournals.ebsco.com/direct.asp?ArticleID=461D8BE0FEC9BE894B9D&gt;
	URL:	http://ejournals.ebsco.com/direct.asp?ArticleID=461D8BE0FEC9BE894B9D