Abstract
The target of this study was to use indigenous probiotic bacteria in the rearing of seabass larvae. A Phaeobacter sp. strain isolated from bonito yolk-sac larvae (Sarda sarda) and identified by amplification of 16S rDNA showed in vitro inhibition against Vibrio anguillarum. This Phaeobacter sp. strain was used in the rearing of seabass larvae (Dicentrarchus labrax L.) in a large-scale trial. The survival of seabass after 60 days of rearing and the specific growth rate at the late exponential growth phase were significantly higher in the treatment receiving probiotics (p < 0.05). Microbial community richness as determined by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) showed an increase in bacterial diversity with fish development. Changes associated with the administration of probiotics were observed 11 and 18 days after hatching but were not apparent after probiotic administration stopped. In a small challenge experiment, seabass larvae from probiotic treatment showed increased survival (p < 0.05) after experimental infection with a mild pathogen (Vibrio harveyi). Overall, our results showed that the use of an indigenous probiotic strain had a beneficial impact on larval rearing in industry-like conditions.