Uso de probióticos y -1,3/1,6-glucanos en la alimentación del camarón litopenaeus vannamei como estrategia para incrementar la producción

Since low shrimp production have been associated in Ecuador with the presence of WSSV, production strategies that will reduce the virus incidence have focused on shrimp health. The hypothesis of this study was that the use of probiotics (Vibrio hepatarius, P62 and Bacillus sp, P64) and β-1,3/1,6-glucans (BG) stimulate the shrimp immune system, improving it’s resistance to infection, increasing pond survivals and the production at harvest. Two BG doses and two frequencies of administration of probiotics were evaluated. In all cases, probiotics and BG were administrated through the feed. A control was included that did not receive probiotics nor BG. In spite of hypoxia events and the presence of a WSSV outbreak, significant differences in the production (lbs.ha) and FCR with the BG-1 and in the Probiotic 1 treatments were observed, allowing production to increase by 48% and 52%, respectively. In addition, we found a decrease of 60 % in the FCR in both cases. The survival and density at the harvest were not statistically different, although these treatments showed higher values than the control. The additional cost associated with the use of probiotic 1 and BG-1 is justified, in regard to the higher income and internal return rate obtained.