Probiotics play a pivotal role in enhancing the health and growth of aquatic animals in aquaculture. These beneficial microorganisms contribute to improved digestion and nutrient absorption by producing digestive enzymes such as amylases, proteases, and lipases, besides providing essential nutrients. By creating a favorable microbial balance in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), probiotics reduce harmful microorganisms and promote the proliferation of beneficial bacteria like Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. This modification of gut microflora leads to more efficient digestion and significantly enhances overall health and growth performance in fish. Additionally, probiotics produce antimicrobial substances, such as bacteriocins and organic acids, which inhibit pathogenic bacteria and bolster disease resistance. They also play a crucial role in improving water quality in aquaculture systems by aiding in the turnover of organic nutrients and reducing toxic substances. Incorporating probiotics into aquaculture practices has demonstrated considerable potential in boosting the productivity and health of aquatic animals, making them an essential component of sustainable aquaculture. This review delves into the multifaceted benefits of probiotics, including enhanced feed utilization, immune responses, and pathogen resistance, and elucidates the mechanisms underlying these effects. Furthermore, it includes a bibliometric analysis of the past 30 years, providing a comprehensive overview of research trends and advancements in this field.

To develop an effective conservation and management strategy, it is required to assess the biodiversity status of an ecosystem, especially when we deal with Indo-Myanmar biodiversity hotspot. Importance of this reaches to an entirely different level as the hotspot represents the area of high endemism which is under continuous threat. Therefore, the need of the present study was conceptualized, dealing with molecular assessment of the fish fauna of Indo-Myanmar region, which covers the Indian states namely, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Nagaland. A total of 363 specimens, representing 109 species were collected and barcoded from the different rivers and their tributaries of the region. The analyses performed in the present study, i.e. Kimura 2-Parameter genetic divergence, Neighbor-Joining, Automated Barcode Gap Discovery and Bayesian Poisson Tree Processes suggest that DNA barcoding is an efficient and reliable tool for species identification. Most of the species were clearly delineated. However, presence of intra-specific and inter-specific genetic distance overlap in few species, revealed the existence of putative cryptic species. A reliable DNA barcode reference library, established in our study provides an adequate knowledge base to the groups of non-taxonomists, researchers, biodiversity managers and policy makers in sketching effective conservation measures for this ecosystem.