Combinatorial supplementation of fish feeds enhanced growth performance and disease resilience in aquaculture.

2026-03-08
Journal of animal science and biotechnology 17(1)

PubMed: 41794794
DOI: 10.1186/s40104-026-01357-3

Study Design

Population: Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer) fingerlings
Methods: Co-administration of encapsulated probiotics and curcumin in functional feeds; feeding trials and pathogen challenge with Streptococcus iniae and Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Background

Aquaculture has grown rapidly in recent decades, yet recurrent bacterial disease outbreaks continue to cause severe economic losses and fuel concerns over antibiotic resistance. With antibiotic use increasingly restricted, sustainable disease management strategies are urgently required. Probiotics and natural bioactive compounds, such as curcumin, have emerged as promising alternatives, but their combined application remains underexplored.

Results

We evaluated the co-administration of encapsulated probiotics and curcumin in functional feeds on growth performance and disease resilience of Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer) fingerlings challenged with Streptococcus iniae and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Among 11 probiotic strains screened, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum displayed the strongest inhibitory effect and highest viability following alginate-based encapsulation. Curcumin selectively inhibited pathogens without affecting probiotic growth, and synergistic antimicrobial effects were observed when combined with probiotics. Feeding trials showed that encapsulated probiotics increased body weight by 33% compared with controls. Diets supplemented with probiotics, curcumin, or their combination significantly improved feed conversion efficiency and survival. Notably, co-supplementation yielded the greatest benefits, achieving the highest survival rates under pathogen challenge and enhancing immune protection beyond individual treatments.

Conclusions

These findings demonstrate that probiotics combined with curcumin constitute a natural, antibiotic-free strategy to improve fish growth and disease resistance. This functional feed approach provides a scalable and sustainable platform for advancing responsible aquaculture and may inform broader applications in animal production systems.

Research Insights

Supplement	Dose	Health Outcome	Effect Type	Effect Size	Source
Lactobacillus amylovorus	—	Enhanced Disease Resistance	Beneficial	Large	View source co-supplementation yielded the greatest benefits, achieving the highest survival rates under pathogen challenge and enhancing immune protection beyond individual treatments.
Lactobacillus amylovorus	—	Improved Growth Performance	Beneficial	Large	View source Feeding trials showed that encapsulated probiotics increased body weight by 33% compared with controls.