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The Hidden Microbial World in the Gut of the Terrestrial Snail Cornu aspersum maxima and the Unexpected Negative Effects of Synbiotics

Summary

This study tested whether adding beneficial bacteria (probiotics) and dietary fibers (prebiotics) to snail farm feed could improve snail health and growth. While individual probiotic and prebiotic treatments helped reduce harmful bacteria in snails’ digestive systems, combining them together as a synbiotic surprisingly caused extremely high death rates in the snails. The results show that more research is needed before combining these supplements in snail farming.

Background

The intestinal microbiome is essential for gastropod physiology and health, yet remains largely understudied. Probiotics and prebiotics have shown promise in livestock farming for enhancing gut health and growth performance. This study investigates the effects of dietary supplementation on the gut microbiome of farmed terrestrial snails.

Objective

To characterize the gut microbial communities of Cornu aspersum maxima and assess the effects of dietary supplementation with Lactobacillus plantarum, inulin, and their combination (synbiotic) on microbial diversity, snail growth, and survival over a 60-day trial.

Results

Probiotic and prebiotic treatments altered gut bacteria, increasing beneficial Actinobacteria and reducing potentially harmful taxa like Klebsiella. However, L. plantarum was not detected post-administration. The synbiotic group showed significantly higher microbial diversity but exhibited 100% mortality by day 60, while weight gain was minimal across all groups.

Conclusion

While probiotics and prebiotics can improve gut health by enhancing beneficial bacteria, synbiotic combination led to adverse outcomes including high mortality. These findings highlight the need for caution in applying synbiotics to snail farming and demonstrate the dynamic nature of the snail gut microbiome.
  • Published in:Microorganisms,
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: PMID: 41011457, DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms13092127
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