title: Effects of a novel marine probiotic, Lactobacillus plantarum AH 78, on growth performance and immune response of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evaluation of the efficacy of marine lactic acid bacteria, Lactobacillus plantarum AH 78, on growth performance and immune response of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Marine probiotic, Lact. plantarum AH 78, was incorporated in Nile tilapia diets at 0·0, 0·5, 1·0 or 2·0% (w/w). The diets were fed to juvenile Nile tilapia for 40 days, after which they were challenged with pathogenic bacterium, Aer. hydrophila. The best growth rates and feed efficiency were obtained at 0·5% probiotic, while fish survival was not affected by dietary probiotic. After challenge with Aer. hydrophila immunological responses and survival were recorded at 1·0% probiont. Likewise, significant up-regulation of the expression of cytokine genes, IL-4, IL-12 and IFN-γ, in fish livers was found at 1·0% probiont, compared to the control diet. Concomitantly, AH 78 colonized the intestinal mucosa of treated fish, even after reverting to the control diet, and remained viable in the feed stored at 4°C up to 12 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Marine Lact. plantarum AH 78 at 0·5-1·0% inclusion level conferred the best performance and immune response of Nile tilapia challenged with Aer. hydrophila.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Marine Lact. plantarum AH 78 could be considered as a potential probiotic to control disease outbreaks in farmed Nile tilapia.
authors.affiliation: Oceanography Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Hamdan
authors.affiliation: Oceanography Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors.forename: A F M
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: El-Sayed
authors.affiliation: Oceanography Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Mahmoud
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016980:Aeromonas hydrophila / Q000502:physiology; D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis / Q000382:microbiology; D000818:Animals; D017756:Aquaculture / Q000379:methods; D023681:Cichlids / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004032:Diet; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology; D048191:Lactiplantibacillus plantarum / Q000502:physiology*; D019936:Probiotics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines
keywords: Lactobacillus plantarum; Nile tilapia; immune response; marine probiotic; performance