Evaluation du probiotique bactérien Pediococcus acidilactici MA18/5M chez la crevette pénéide Litopenaeus stylirostris en Nouvelle- Calédonie

P. acidilactici MA 18/5M is a dietary probiotic (BACTOCELL®) which has shown its efficiency on several terrestrial and aquatic species. The present thesis aimed to investigate more fully the effects of this probiotic on cultured penaeid shrimps. For this study, we chose a global approach by replacing the problem studied in a model of interactions between three compartments: the shrimp, its intestinal microflora and the probiotic. Having first defined how the probiotic should be administrated, we studied its effects under controlled laboratory conditions at several levels of Litopenaeus stylirostris biology: (i) Nutritional status and growth, (ii) associated bacterial microflora, and (iii) health status with respect to oxidative stress. Then the probiotic improves the growth of the shrimps and the feed conversion ratio. Our study shows that these effects are partially due to a better use of the feed, particularly of dietary carbohydrates, but also suggest an action on the metabolism, and\or on the growth via a contribution of essential nutrients. On the other hand, although the intestinal bacterial communities seems little affected, we show an antagonism effect of the probiotic toward total and vibrionacea intestinal flora, as well as a decrease in the level of infection of shrimps during challenge with pathogenic V. nigripulchritudo. Beside, our works highlight that infection by this pathogen, led to a reduction in antioxidant defences, to a rise in oxidative damages, and to a release of mortalities within 48 hours. This oxidative stress following bacterial infection was better controlled by animals receiving the probiotic diet, and resistance of the shrimps to infection was significant improved. A nutritional hypothesis is proposed to explain such result, hypothesis based on a link between carbohydrate metabolism and antioxidant status. As a conclusion of these works, we can propose a first explanatory scenario for the effects of P. acidilactici on a penaeid shrimp. Finally probiotic's effects were assessed under a pilot scale in a commercial farm from New Caledonia currently affected by the "summer syndrome ". We confirm the improvements brought in term of zootechnical results, with in particular, a better resistance to this syndrome. This work was made possible thanks to a breeding method in floating cages, developed during this thesis, and therefore transferred, as an experimental tool, to the shrimp industry of New Caledonia.