Development and Evaluation of the Efficacy of a Local Probiotic in Comparison with a Commercial Probiotic in the African Catfish, Clarias gariepinus

Probiotics are mono or mixed cultures of live organisms which improve the host’s health status and indigenous flora properties. The use of probiotics in enhancing growth and as replacement for synthetic growth promoters in animal health management and nutrition has been scientifically proven. This study was carried out to evaluate the intestinal flora of the African catfish, Clarias gariepinus for probiotic properties, develop suitable probiotic formulation/s from them; and evaluate the efficacy of the developed probiotic for promoting growth and health in the African catfish in comparison with a commercial probiotic, Mito yeast. Laboratory screening of the gut Microflora of cultured C. gariepinus using standard methods revealed Lactobacillus plantarum as a viable organism with probiotic properties. Lactobacillus plantarum (Accession no: KP 410238) was thereafter cultured, processed and included as supplement in the diet of C. gariepinus and evaluated for growth and health enhancement capability. Experimental diets (TD1, TD2, TD3, TD4) were supplemented with the developed probiotic containing L. plantarum (109 CFU/g) at 0, 0.25, 0.5 and 1% respectively, while TD5 was supplemented with 0.5% MY-500 (MitoYeast) containing Saccharomyces boulardii culture (2x109 CFU/g). Growth performance, measured by body weight gain, BWG; specific growth rate, SGR and metabolic growth rate, MGR; and nutrient utilization (protein efficiency ratio (PER), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and feed efficiency, FE) were significantly different (P < 0.05) in treatments with varied levels of probiotics’ inclusion compared to the control diet. Hematological effects as indicated by Packed Cell Volume, Hemoglobin, Red Blood Cell count, White Blood Cell Volume, Mean Corpuscular Volume, Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration and Platelet count showed an increase in fish fed probiotic-supplemented diet treatments compared to control, but the effects were not significantly different (P ≥ 0.05), and values were within recommended levels. This suggests that the developed probiotic has no negative impact on the health status of C. gariepinus. This study concludes that dietary inclusion of probiotics in C. gariepinus diets improved growth and nutrient utilization in the fish; and had no adverse effect on its health status. Lactobacillus plantarum, a naturally occurring microorganism present in the gut of C. gariepinus was identified and confirmed as a viable probiotic agent in the species