Use of probiotics and immunostimulants

Overall effectiveness category Awaiting assessment
Number of studies: 2
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Calculating overall effectiveness category

Background information and definitions

Atlantic salmon cultured in commercial farms are at an increased risk of contracting and transferring infectious bacterial diseases and other pathogens. Immunostimulants and probiotics are drugs administered with the aim of improving immune response and gut health, in turn improving survival rates and condition of the fish.

Study locations

Key messages

One replicated study in Scotland found increased survival in salmon fed a probiotic before exposure to four different disease-causing bacteria over a 28 day period compared with controls.
A replicated, controlled study in Norway found the number of salmon infected with lice was reduced by 28% when fed a diet composed of fish meal and 28% plant-based protein. Adding beta-glucans to the diet decreased lice infection levels by a further 28% compared with controls.
The same study found the addition of mannan oligosaccharides improved gut function by preventing the development of soybean-induced enteritis compared with controls.

About key messages

Key messages provide a descriptive index to studies we have found that test this intervention.

Studies are not directly comparable or of equal value. When making decisions based on this evidence, you should consider factors such as study size, study design, reported metrics and relevance of the study to your situation, rather than simply counting the number of studies that support a particular interpretation.

Supporting evidence from individual studies

In 1999, a replicated, controlled experiment in Scotland (Robertson et al., 2000) found that the survival rates of salmon fry, Salmo salar, increased when Carnobacterium bacteria sp. was used as a probiotic. After 14 days of diets with the probiotic, survival was improved when salmon fry were challenged with three different disease-causing bacteria, Aeromonas salmonicida, Vibrio ordalii, and Yersinia ruckeri. Survival rates were 20%, 74% and 71% respectively compared to 0%, 23% and 42% in untreated controls. However, when exposed to the disease-causing bacteria, Vibrio anguillarum, salmon survival was not improved (46%) compared to the control group (42%). After 28 days of the diet with probiotic, improved survival was seen against all bacterial species tested compared to the control groups. 200 salmon fry were fed diets with or without the probiotic for 28 days. At seven day intervals during this 28 day period, a group of 25 salmon fry were exposed to four different disease-causing bacteria then monitored for a further 28 days.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Robertson P.A.W., O'Dowd C.O., Burrells C., Williams P. & Austin B. (2000) Use of Carnobacterium sp. as a probiotic for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss, Walbaum). Aquaculture, 185, 235-243.
In 2009, a randomised, replicated, controlled study in Norway (Refstie et al., 2010) found that salmon, Salmo salar, fed a fish meal-based diet formulated with 14% soybean meal and 14% sunflower meal showed a 27% reduction in lice (Lepeophteirus salmonis and Caligus elongates) infection compared to the control diet. Adding beta-glucans to the experimental diet resulted in a further 28% reduction in infection rates whereas adding mannan oligosaccharides did not affect lice infection rates. It did improve gut function by preventing the salmon from developing soybean-induced enteritis and diarrhoea. Nine experimental diets were fed to salmon over a period of 69 to 71 feeding days. The basal diets were either based on pure fish meal or soybean and sunflower meal-soybean meal mixed with fish meal.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Refstie S., Baeverfjord G., Seim R.R. & Elvebø O. (2010) Effects of dietary yeast cell wall β-glucans and MOS on performance, gut health, and salmon lice resistance in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) fed sunflower and soybean meal. Aquaculture, 305, 109-116.

Please cite as:

Jones, A.C., Mead, A., Austen, M.C.V. & Kaiser, M.J. (2013) Aquaculture: Evidence for the effects of interventions to enhance the sustainability of aquaculture using Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) as a case study. Bangor University

Where has this evidence come from?

List of journals searched by synopsis

All the journals searched for all synopses

This Action forms part of the Action Synopsis:

Sustainable Aquaculture

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