Effects of Dietary Lactiplantibacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum L7, Alone or in Combination with Limosilactobacillus reuteri P16, on Growth, Mucosal Immune Responses, and Disease Resistance of Cyprinus carpio

Skin mucosal lymphoid tissues of fish are the first line of defence against pathogen invasion. We investigated the effects of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum L7, singularly or in combination with Limosilactobacillus reuteri P16, on mucosal immunity and diseases resistance of carp Cyprinus carpio . C. carpio (average weight: 26.28 ± 1.02 g) were divided into five experimental groups. Fish in each group were fed with one of the following potential probiotic-supplemented diets: control (0 – basal diet), D1 (10 7 CFU/g L7), D2 (10 8 CFU/g L7), D3 (10 9 CFU/g L7), and D4 (10 8 CFU/g L7 + 10 8 CFU/g P16). Eight weeks post-feeding, growth performance was higher in D4, with a final weight gain of 67.18 ± 1.47 g. Results showed a significantly higher skin mucosal lysozyme, alkaline phosphatase, mucus protein level, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activities in D2 and D4 compared to the control. However, potential probiotics had no significant effect on skin mucosal immunoglobulin level. Skin mucus of D4 exhibited stronger inhibition zones against pathogenic bacterial strains. Moreover, digestive enzyme activities (protease, lipase) were highest in D4. Intesinal lactic acid bacterial counts of fish fed combind probiotics (i.e. D4) was significantly higher than the control. Further, supplementation of potential probiotics altered the expression of IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-10 cytokines. Fish from D4 exhibited significantly higher relative post-challenge survival (69.7%) against Aeromonas hydrophila , followed by D2 (66.67%). Therefore, the inclusion of L. plantarum subsp. plantarum L7 at 10 8 CFU/g or in combination with L. reuteri P16 could enhance the growth performance, mucosal immune responses, and disease resistance of C. carpio .