The Application of Prebiotics, Probiotics, Synbiotics, Postbiotics and Parabiotics in Aquaculture

Abstract

The aquaculture industry has been growing rapidly over the last decades and has become one of the main producers of aquatic organisms. There has been an increasing interest in using biotic supplements, such as prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics, postbiotics, and parabiotics, as alternatives to antibiotics and chemical treatments in aquaculture. These biotic agents hold promise for improving the gut health, growth performance, reproductive system, immune response, and disease resistance of aquatic organisms. This review delves into the mechanisms, benefits, and applications of biotic supplements in aquaculture systems. It highlights the growing interest in postbiotics and parabiotics, which, unlike probiotics, do not require live bacteria to deliver health benefits. However, despite their potential, postbiotics and parabiotics are still rarely used in aquaculture. Growth enhancement is often linked to an increase in digestive enzyme activity or the stimulation of host appetite-regulating hormones. Additionally, biotic supplementation can also act as ammonia-oxidizing and nitrite-oxidizing agents to maintain appropriate water quality. They also improve reproductive performance in aquatic species, aiding in broodstock maintenance and enhancement. Moreover, biotic supplements boost innate and adaptive immune responses, helping to combat bacterial diseases in the aquatic environment. Furthermore, the review addresses the safety and challenges of integrating.