Synbiotic application to enhance growth, immune system, and disease resistance toward bacterial infection in catfish (Clarias gariepinus)
Abstract
Lactobacillus
casei (LC) on catfish (Clarias gariepinus var.) feed to enhance growth, feed efficiency, and resistance toward
Aeromonas hydrophila and Pseudomonas fluorescens bacterial infection. Five different pellet types were made by
adding various composition of SFE and LC as follows: pellet 1 (0 SFE + 0 LC), pellet 2 (0 SFE + 10 g kg−1 LC),
pellet 3 (2 g kg−1 SFE + 10 g kg−1 LC), Pellet 4 (4 g kg−1 SFE +10 g kg−1 LC), Pellet 5 (6 g kg−1 SFE +10 g kg−1
LC). In total, 150 Catfish (initial weight ± 4 g) were randomly distributed into 15 plastic boxes and cultured for
12 weeks. Catfish were fed with different composition pellets for two weeks, followed by a regular pellet. The observation
of growth was examined in weeks four and eight after feeding time. In week 8, the bacterial challenge
against A. hydrophila and P. fluorescens was performed, and the observation was continued until week 12. The results
showed that catfish grew to weigh an average of 45 g in week 8. Catfish fed higher concentrations of SFE
and LC extractions showed a specific growth rate significantly higher (8–9%) than that of the control-treatment
catfish. Additionally, SFE and LC extractions enhanced immune system function between weeks four and eight in
comparison with other treatments. Resistance against bacterial infection increased with the SFE extraction to
reach 99.65–100%. Fish feed containing only the LC extraction also showed higher resistance than controltreatment
feed. In conclusion, higher concentrations of SFE and LC extractions in catfish feed has been shown to
enhance growth, with no attendant risk. Importantly, the use of the synbiotics enhanced both the immune system
and resistance to A. hydrophila and P. fluorescens bacterial infections.