Shrimp farming industry in Sri Lanka has been constrained by many disease conditions, infectious and non-infectious, during the last decade. The economic losses have4 threatened the sustainability of the industry. Therefore, any commercial product advertised as capable of controlling disease, have been welcome, and this has resulted in many such products being introduced regularly. The present study analyses the use of probiotics and its impacts on controlling shrimp disease in the Dutch canal - Mundel area.
Investigations revealed that 60% of the commercially available probiotics were unable to maintain water quality or improve pond conditions or disease resistance. Of the other 40%probiotic species, 24% were capable of controlling pond conditions and maintaining water quality to a level that bacterial and fungal infections were controlled. The other 16% were capable of controlling pond environment more than ponds without probiotic use, but were not effective during the final period of culture, when pollution levels were increased. However incidence of bacterial and fungal infections were reduced in these ponds compared to ponds without probiotic use.
Incidence of White spot disease was observed irrespective of probiotic use. But the incidence was lower in farms maintaining good pond condition.