Probiotics for Aquaculture
Why do we need Probiotics for Aquaculture?

Probiotics for human and livestock are optimized to live in 37°C. These probiotics are inadequate to live in marine temperature(15~25°C) and salt concentration. To survive and proliferate in brine, probiotic bacteria should overcome saline condition and low temperature. Kimchi, Korean traditional vegetable food, satisfies these condition. So we separated probiotic bacteria from Kimchi.
Antibacterial activity and growth promotion in a aquacultured fish by probiotics
For the development of probiotics in aquaculture of marine organisms, three strains having psychrophilic and salt tolerant characteristics were isolated from Kimchi. Among the isolated strains, MG19, MG89 and MG208 were identified as Lactobacillus brevis, Enterococcus faecium and Lactobacillus plantarum, respectively.
The neutralized culture broth of isolated strains were tested in order to evaluate the antibacterial activity, which showed high antibacterial activity against Edwardsiella tarda, Vibrio cholerae and Pseudomonas fluorescens. In mixed culture of pathogen and isolated strain, pathogens were significantly inhibited after 2 days of cultivation but the isolated strains showed normal growth.
When the E. tarda was cultured with three isolated strains, its growth was completely inhibited after 24 hours of cultivation. The effect of isolated three strains as probiotics was investigated based on the changes in body weight of aquacultured flounder. After 50 days feeding trial, it was found that the mean body weight gain of the tested group fed by freeze dried isolated cells was significantly greater than that of the cintrol group. These results suggest that the isolated strains can play an important role as probiotics in aquaculture.
Antibacterial activity of probiotics cultivated in optimal production medium
Loaded sample((50㎕) |
Antibacterial activity against |
Edwardsiella tarda |
Vibrio cholerae |
Pseudomonas fluorescens |
1% Amoxycillin Neutralized Cultured broth |
19 |
13 |
15 |
MG19 |
15 |
12 |
15 |
MG89 |
16 |
12 |
15 |
MG208 |
18 |
11 |
17 |

Fig.1. Growth inhibition of Edwardsiella tarda by three probiotics(MG19, MG89, MG208) in TSB broth contained 2.5% NaCl
- ● Viable cells of E.tarda in only E.tarda culture,
- ■ Viable cells of probiotics in mixed culture,
- ▲ Viable cells of E.tarda in mixed culture

Fig. 2. Growth inhibition of Vibrio cholerae by three probiotics(MG19, MG89, MG208) in LB broth contained 2.5% NaCl
- ● Viable cells of V.cholerae in only V.cholerae culture,
- ■ Viable cells of probiotics in mixed culture,
- ▲ Viable cells of V.cholerae in mixed culture

Fig. 3. Growth inhibition of Pseudomonas fluorescens by three probiotics(MG89, MG208, MG311) in LB broth
- ● Viable cells of P.fluorescens in only P.fluorescens culture,
- ■ Viable cells of probiotics in mixed culture,
- ▲ Viable cells of P.fluorescens in mixed culture
Effect of oral administration of probiotics on body weight gain of flounder after 50 days in feeding trials
Determination
item |
Average weight(g) |
Body weight gain |
Gained weight ratio(%) |
Gained weight ratio to control(%) |
1st day |
50th days |
Feeding of probiotics* |
316.4 |
401.8 |
85.4 |
27 |
50 |
control |
318.4 |
375.0 |
56.6 |
17.8 |
- |
*; mixture of MG19, MG89 and MG208
Probiotics for Aquaculture
Microorganism |
Characteristics |
Competitiveness |
Lactobacillus brevis
Lactobacillus plantarum
Lactobacillus casei
Enterococcus faecium |
- accelerate growth of beneficial intestinal bacteria
- restrain harmful intestinal bacterial growth
- produce anti-bacterial substances
- strengthen immunity
- neutralize toxicity
- help growth of fishes and improve feed efficiency
- synthesize vitamins
|
- survive at low temperature(15~25°C) & in saline conditiontion (NaCl 3~6%)
- resistant to bile and acidity
- high durability
|
Probiotics for domestic animal (Direct-fed Microbials)
An effective probiotic dietary supplement should
- Exert a beneficial effect on the host
- Be nonpathogenic and nontoxic
- Contain a large number of viable cells
- Be capable of surviving and metabolizing in the gut
- Remain viable during storage and use
- Be antagonistic to pathogen
Our custom probiotic formulations meet all these requirements.
Growth characteristics of probiotics appear to be species specific and depend on the amount ingested and duration administered. The more the bacterial imbalance in the digestive system, the higher the dosage will be required for positive and measurable results.
Effects of Probiotics in Livestocks
- resistance to infectious disease
- improvement of digestion
- increased growth rate
- better absorption of nutrients
- provision of essential nutrients
- augmentation of milk yield
- improvement of milk quality
- increase of egg production
- reduction of bad ordor in feces
Healthier animals shall grow faster and be more productive than weak livestock. Apparently, probiotics are not an direct alternative to antibiotic treatment of acute disease. But probiotics can be used normal times to prevent infectious disease.
Probiotics for Livestock
Microorganism |
Characteristics |
Competitiveness |
Lactobacillus acidophilus
Lactobacillus casei
Lactobacillus reuteri
Bifidobacterium bifidum
Bifidobacterium longum
Enterococcus faecium
|
- accelerate growth of beneficial intestinal bacteria
- restrain growth of noxious intestinal bacteria
- secrete anti-bacterial substrate
- strengthen immunity
- neutralize toxicity
- help growth of livestock and improve feed efficiency
- synthesize vitamins
|
- rapid growth of microorganism
- resistant to bile and acidity
- high durability
|
Bacillus coagulans
Bacillus polyfermenticus
Bacillus subtilis
Bacillus natto
|
- synthesize protease and carbohydrate dehydrogenase
- stabilize intestinal activity
- build up beneficial intestinal-microflora
- remove bad odors of animal excretion
|
- resistant to heat as spore-forming bacteria
- high survival rate in addition to high temperature treated feed
- resistant to bile and acidity
- very high durability
|
Products for addition to high temperature treatment feed
Why do we need Probiotics for high temperature treatment feed?

| Click on small images to see them in enlarged detail |
|
Probiotics for addition to high temperature treatment feed
Microorganism |
Characteristics |
Competitiveness |
Bacillus polyfermenticus |
- secrete a lot of enzymes
- produce lactic acid and acetic acid
- synthesize vitamin B group
|
- Resistance to heat
Survival rate of above 90% after 80°C treatment for 30min.
- Resistance to acidity
Survival rate of above 90% in artificial gastric juice(pH3 for 30min.)
- Shelf life
Survival rate of above 80% after 1 year at room temperature.
|
Bacillus coagulans |
- produce lactic acid
- rapid growth in intestine
- help intestinal peristalsis
- synthesize vitamin B group
|
Bacillus subtilis |
- secrete amylase, protease etc.
- help growth of lactic acid bacteria
- improve digestion and repress diarrhea
|
|