Probiotics and Their Applications in Aquaculture

The antibiotics used frequently in aquaculture are oxytetracycline, chlorotetracycline, amoxicillin, cotrimoxazole, and sulfamethoxazole. They remain in aquatic environments for a long time, with detrimental side effects, including the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, the presence of antibiotic residue in the flesh, and variations in aquaculture environment microbiota. Parker defines probiotics as "organisms and substances which contribute to intestinal microbial balance." Probiotics are microorganisms that provide healthful benefits. Most general microorganisms are used as starters for the modern preparation of fermented dairy, meat, vegetable, and grain items. A probiotic blend may be more powerful than applying a solitary species because not all desirable probiotic attributes are present in a solitary isolated strain. Probiotics play a very important role in maintaining optimum water quality parameters like dissolved oxygen, ammonia, phosphates, nitrite, nitrate, bacterial loads, and zooplanktons throughout the culture period. Their use resulted in better growth and survival of fish species in aquaculture ponds.