Immunophysiological Response of Pacific White Shrimp Exposed to a Probiotic Mixture of Proteobacteria and Firmicutes in Farm Conditions

AbstractThe effect of a probiotic mixture (Proteobacteria–Firmicutes) on the immune and physiological responses of Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei reared at commercial scale was evaluated. Shrimp were cultured into two different systems: a traditional system and a probiotic-based system using the probiotic mixture every day of culture. Hemolymph parameters and the expression of immune-related genes were monitored during the culture cycle. Shrimp reared in the probiotic-based system registered an upregulation of clotting protein (CP), prophenoloxidase (proPO), alpha-2-macrogolbulin (A2M), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and heat shock protein (hsp) 60 genes in hemocytes compared with those reared in the traditional system. Also, high transcription levels of CP, proPO, transglutaminase, beta glucan binding protein, SOD, hsp60, and hsp90 genes were detected in the hepatopancreatic tissue of shrimp reared with probiotics. While no significant differences were detected for hemolymphatic concentrations of...