In vitro selection of autochthonous bacterium with probiotic potential for the neotropical fish piauçu Megaleporinus microcephalus

ABSTRACT The study aimed to isolate, identify, and apply in vitro tests on bacteria with autochthonous probiotic potential isolated from fifteen healthy specimens of Megaleporinus macrocephalus. The strains were selected from the intestinal tract of fish and inoculated in the Petri plate containing Sharp Man Rogosa Agar (MRS) for (48 hours at 35ºC). They were isolated based on a test of catalase, Gram stain, tolerance to different gradients NaCl (1, 2 and 3%), pH (4, 5, 6, 8 and 9) values and bile salts (2.5 and 5%), in addition to the inhibition zone against pathogens. Of the 42 strains isolated, ST1 and ST9 had higher values (p<0.05) for total viable cells (31.80±0.07 and 32.51±0.05 CFU/mL × 108) respectively. In the resistance tests, strains ST1 and ST9 presented the best results, with emphasis on ST9 in the gradients of pH, high values of bile salts and larger inhibition zones against Aeromonas hydrophila and Aeromonas jandaei. The strains with the best results in the tests, ST1 and ST9, were identified by the MALDI-TOF-MS method as Enterococcus faecium. Thus, the isolated E. faecium bacteria, may be recommended as for probiotic use in farming the M. macrocephalus.