PROBIOTICS AND THEIR USE IN

PROBIOTICS AND THEIR USE IN AQUACULTURE April 2006 10th Aquaculture Insurance and Risk Management Conference Presented by: William P Long Chief Executive Officer Epicore BioNetworks Inc BASIC AQUACULTURE MARKET NEEDS  To survive and make money  To overcome problems of:  Pond crashes  Farm abandonment  Low survival  Poor quality animals  Low weights  Poor feed conversion ratio (FCR) It’s not a hobby; it’s a business! MURPHY’S LAW  Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong!  Mismanagement  Weak PL, bad feed, inadequate oxygen, poor harvest procedures  Natural events  Weather, predators    Disease Theft Crop market prices THE SCIENCE OF SURVIVAL Through microbiological science aquaculturists can fight Murphy's Law Probiotics are a natural, environmentally friendly application of microbiology TRADITIONAL DISEASE CONTROL UNDER FIRE  Many older antibiotics proven unsafe so are banned from all uses  Shrimp with antibiotic residues cannot be sold in many major markets  State of art antibiotics should be reserved for humans ROLE OF ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY IN AQUACULTURE  Pollution control  Bioremediation of wastes  Cleaner water & pond bottoms  Disease resistance imparted by creating a lower stress growing environment  Probiotic action  Directly protects animals from disease  Pathogenic Vibrio parahemolyticus, Vibrio harveyi bacteria, Aeromonas  Indirectly protects from some viral diseases POLLUTION CONTROL  Waste is major problem in aquaculture pond and hatchery waters  Affects animal health and vigor  Lowers harvest yield value  Forces frequent water exchange    A biosecurity risk Bacteria are nature’s chosen waste degraders End result of microbial action is biomass - a soil amendment Harnessing the power of nature’s microbial workforce BIOREMEDIATION MODE OF ACTION   Aquaculture wastes are organic in nature Microorganisms “eat” organic wastes  Bacteria + N + C + P + O2 = More Bacteria + H2O + CO2  Microorganisms digest pollutants  Ammonia: very toxic to crustaceans and fish  Nitrite: very toxic to crustaceans and fish  And is food for disease causing Vibrio  Nitrate: too much causes algae crashes  Pond bottom waste: release nutrients in older ponds to promote natural algae bloom without added fertilizer WHAT IS A PROBIOTIC A live microbial supplement that benefits the host animal – From the Greek “probios”:  Pro = “for”  Opposite Bios = “life” of antibiotic – A microbial killer or suppressant PROBIOTIC MODES OF ACTION  Competitive exclusion    Out-competes pathogenic bacteria for nutrients Displaces pathogens from gut wall sites Produces acids in gut to inhibit pathogenic bacteria  Bacteriocin (antimicrobial) excretion  Repels or kills pathogenic bacteria  Stimulates immune response  Aids digestion   Produces enzymes to help digest & absorb feed Reduces toxic amines INTENSIVE VANNAMEI POND RESULTS Brazil 2001 Parameter Pond Cycles Avg size (ha) Avg S.D (PL/sq m) Avg cycle (days) Avg weight (gm) Avg S.R Cycle yield (kg/ha) Probiotic Control 2.25 95.4 114 12.0 73.5% 8,470 2.25 64.3 95 11.6 69.5% 4,750 Probiotic allowed higher stocking and gave 78% yield increase PROBIOTIC ADDITION TO FEED Ecuadorian Pond Survival Results 60.0% Survival 50.0% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 0.0% Control 2.2 g/kg feed 4.4 g/kg feed EPICIN Treatment Rate Very efficient for low SD ponds TYPICAL SHRIMP HATCHERY TYPICAL SHRIMP HATCHERY TANKS POSTLARVAL SHRIMP PROBIOTICS IN HATCHERIES  Prevention better than curative approach  Use throughout cycle to avoid problems  Product grade selection  Special grades for hatcheries & for zoea stage  Product hydration important  Pass mixture through a 100 micron mesh and discard the remaining solid material    Use extra when conditions dictate Follow supplier literature DO NOT USE with antibiotics or microbiocides PROBIOTIC HYDRATION AND APPLICATION Larvipac Year Data Comparison 62.21 400,000 60 300,000 47.46 50 200,000 100,000 70 40 33.42 30 2000 2001 2002 Survival % Production '000 500,000 EPICORE SYSTEM TRIAL NORAMAC HATCHERY - ECUADOR 70% Average Survival % 60% 50% 40% AVERAGE TANKS USING PROBIOTIC AVERAGE TANKS WITHOUT PROBIOTIC 30% 20% 10% 0% Probiotics improve all liquid feed results NON-SHRIMP SPECIES  Probiotics work in fish aquaculture as well as in shrimp – In hatcheries – In grow-out  Research – Fish – Crabs – Oysters on several species FLORIDA KEYS FISH HATCHERY U OF MIAMI SEA TROUT STUDY Mean sea trout lengths 21 days after hatching using lumped trial data for analysis 6.9 6.8 length (mm) 6.7 p = 0.08 (NS) 6.6 6.5 6.4 6.3 6.2 6.1 Lum ped Probiotics Lumped Control Treatment U OF MIAMI SEA TROUT STUDY Mean Sea Trout Survival 21 days after hatching 1200 1000 Count 800 p = 0.21 600 400 200 Probiotics Control Treatment PROBIOTICS MAKE A DIFFERENCE Probiotics always come out on top! PROBIOTICS FOR AQUACULTURE The science of survival Help to improve aquaculture yield and profits Thanks for your interest © 2006 Epicore BioNetworks Inc ... Probiotics boost immune system of shrimp Probiotics also digest pollutants Probiotics promote high survival so are costefficient to use Cheaper to use probiotics than antibiotics PROBIOTICS AND. .. crustaceans and fish  Nitrite: very toxic to crustaceans and fish  And is food for disease causing Vibrio  Nitrate: too much causes algae crashes  Pond bottom waste: release nutrients in older... dormant bacteria Success factors  Water quality: use clean or disinfected pond water  Neutralize disinfectants before adding PROBIOTICS  Aeration: use air stone or stir frequently  Time: follow