Evaluation of Bacillus spp. as Potent Probiotics with Reduction in AHPND-Related Mortality and Facilitating Growth Performance of Pacific White Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) Farms

Abstract

Acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) is a serious bacterial disease affecting shrimp aquaculture worldwide. In this study, natural microbes were used in disease prevention and control. Probiotics derived from Bacillus spp. were isolated from the stomachs of AHPND-surviving Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (22 isolates) and mangrove forest soil near the shrimp farms (10 isolates). Bacillus spp. were genetically identified and characterized based on the availability of antimicrobial peptide (AMP)-related genes. The phenotypic characterization of all Bacillus spp. was determined based on their capability to inhibit AHPND-causing strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus (VPAHPND). The results showed that Bacillus spp. without AMP-related genes were incapable of inhibiting VPAHPND in vitro, while other Bacillus spp. harboring at least two AMP-related genes exhibited diverse inhibition activities. Interestingly, K3 [B. subtilis (srfAA+ and bacA+)], isolated from shrimp, exerted remarkable inhibition against VPAHPND (80% survival) in Pacific white shrimp and maintained a reduction in shrimp mortality within different ranges of salinity (75–95% survival). Moreover, with different strains of VPAHPND, B. subtilis (K3) showed outstanding protection, and the survival rate of shrimp remained stable among the tested groups (80–95% survival). Thus, B. subtilis (K3) was further used to determine its efficiency in shrimp farms in different locations of Vietnam. Lower disease occurrences (2 ponds out of 30 ponds) and greater production efficiency were noticeable in the B. subtilis (K3)-treated farms. Taking the results of this study together, the heat-shock isolation and genotypic-phenotypic characterization of Bacillus spp. enable the selection of probiotics that control AHPND in Pacific white shrimp. Consequently, greater disease prevention and growth performance were affirmed to be beneficial in the use of these probiotics in shrimp cultivation, which will sustain shrimp aquaculture and be environmentally friendly.