Abstract:
In order to screen for probiotics capable of promoting the growth of largemouth bass and enhancing their resistance to Largemouth Bass Ranavirus (LMBV), this study isolated Bacillus and Lactobacillus strains from the intestine of largemouth bass. The strains were selected through hemolysis tests, antimicrobial susceptibility tests, enzyme production, acid production experiments, as well as colonization experiments in the intestine of largemouth bass. Finally, 5 strains of Bacillus subtilis (BS04, BS49, BS58, BS66, and BS74), 2 strains of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (BA04 and BA12), 1 strain of Enterococcus faecalis (Efa01), and 5 strains of Lactococcus lactis (LL01, LL05, LL09, LL13, and LL22) were added to feed respectively and fed to largemouth bass for 30 days to investigate their effects on growth performance and resistance to LMBV. The results showed that BS04, BS49, BS66, BS74, BA04, BA12, LL01, LL05, LL09, LL13, and LL22 significantly increased the percentage weight gain and specific growth rate of largemouth bass, while significantly reduced their feed conversion ratio. The expression of four immune factors (IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-8, and TNF-α) in the spleen and head kidney of largemouth bass in the BS04, BS49, and LL01 groups were significantly increased. The viral load in the spleen and head kidney of each experimental group was significantly reduced after the LMBV challenge and the relative protection rate was higher than 20%, with the highest relative protection rate in the BS04 group of 55.1%. In conclusion, Bacillus subtilis BS04 isolated in this study can effectively improve the growth performance, immune response and anti-LMBV ability of largemouth bass, and has the potential to be used as a feed additive.