Bactérias com potencial probiótico isoladas do intestino do beijupirá (Rachycentron canadum Linnaeus, 1766)

Abstract

The indiscriminate use of antimicrobial drugs in aquaculture may cause development of drug-resistant bacteria, which become more difficult to be controlled and eliminated. Probiotics may represent an alternative prophylactic disease control, replacing the use of antibiotics. In this respect, this study isolated, tested and identified potential probiotic bacteria from the gut of cobia, Rachycentron canadum, a potential candidate for marine aquaculture. 40 animals were captured, 10 from a private hatchery and 30 from an offshore culture system (PE, Brazil) between November 2010 and July 2011. Fishes from the hatchery had weight of 139.30 ± 31.52 g and length of 27.13 ± 1.46 cm, while those from offshore culture system weighed 456.77 ± 264.46 g and had length of 37.29 ± 6.05 cm. 45 bacterial were isolated and tested in vitro against five known pathogenic species, Aeromonas hydrophila (IOC/FDA 110-36), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 15442), Streptococcus agalactiae (ATCC 13813), Vibrio parahaemolyticus (ATCC 17802) and Vibrio vulnificus (ATCC 27562). Fifteen strains (33.33%) had antibacterial activity to at least one pathogen, while eight (17.77%) were inhibited all pathogens tested. There was significant difference (P<0.05) between percentage of potential probiotic obtained from different seasons, rainy and dry. Strains that presented the best results antagonism test in vitro were identified as Lactobacillus plantarum, Bacillus coagulans, Klebsiella spp., Bacillus circulans, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis and Bacillus firmus. The largest inhibition zone observed in the antagonism test was produced by B. circulans against V. vulnificus. Some potential probiotic species identified were characterized by others authors, but isolated from the intestine of other fish species. It is suggested in vivo antagonism tests are performed to prove the effectiveness of these bacteria as probiotic to cobia.