Influence of Lactobacillus plantarum supplemented diet on growth response,gut morphometry and microbial profile in gut of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings

Objective:To evaluate the influence of dietary inclusions of Lactobacillus plantarum(L.plantarum)on growth response,gut morphometry and intestinal microbial profile of Clarias gariepinus(C.gariepinus)fingerlings was carried out using a total of 150 C.gariepinus fingerlings(2.35±0.48 g/fish)by selecting at random into five treatments groups of 10 fish in 3 three replicates each.Methods:L.plantarum isolated from corn slurry was cultured using standard measures.Five isonitrogenous diets were prepared at 35%crude protein(T_(0),T_(1),T2,T_(3)and T_(4))with L.plantarum at inclusion rate of 0.0%,0.5%,1.0%,1.5%and 2.0%respectively.The fish were fed at 5%body weight per day for 12 weeks twice daily.Results:T_(4)recorded the highest mean weight gain and specific growth rate while the lowest was obtained in T_(1).T_(4)(1.97)when compared with other treatments had marginally lower feed conversion ratio.Absorptive area was most significantly higher in T_(3)and T_(4)group when compared to the control(T_(0))and other lower dietary probiotic inclusion groups.Cryptal depth was highest in T_(4)with significant difference which also gave the maximum enterobacteriaceae count while T_(0)recorded the least count.Conclusions:From these indications,L.plantarum fortified diets may enhance the growth of cultured C.gariepinus fingerlings at 2.0%inclusion rate as it was observed to improve body weight gain,feed conversion ratio with increment in the absorptive area and the microbial count in the gut.