Benefits of Adding Probiotic Based on Lactobacillus fermentum to tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum)

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the histomorphometric characteristics of the intestinal mucosa of juvenile tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) after adding the probiotic Lactobacillus fermentum to their diet, from sources both internal and external to the host. A randomized block design was used, with two treatments and a control in four replicates, as follows: T1, fish fed with feed supplemented with autochthonous L. fermentum (LMUFT10) (10 mL kg^-1 of feed; 5 x 109 CFU mL^-1); T2, fish fed with diet supplemented with commercial L. fermentum (10 mL kg^-1 of feed; 5 x 109 CFU mL^-1); and T3, control: fish that only received feed. Supplementation with probiotic (autochthonous L. fermentum) had no effect on the height and length of the tambaqui intestinal villi. However, there were increases in the numbers of goblet cells in both treated groups (T1 and T2). Thus, it can be concluded that L. fermentum, regardless of its source, contributes to defense of the intestinal mucosa of tambaqui through increased production of goblet cells.