In-feed nutritional additive probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii RC009 can substitute for prophylactic antibiotics and improve the production and health of weaning pigs.

Background and Aims: Non-therapeutic antibiotic use is associated with the current decrease in antibiotic therapeutic efficiency and the emergence of a wide range of resistant strains, which constitutes a public health risk. This study aimed to evaluate the use of Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii RC009 as a nutritional feed additive to substitute the prophylactic use of antibiotics and improve the productive performance and health of post-weaning piglets. Materials and Methods: Four regular nutritional phases were prepared. Post-weaning pigs (21-70 days old) received one of two dietary treatments: T1-basal diet (BD-control group) with in-feed antibiotics as a prophylactic medication (one pulse of Tiamulin in P3 and one pulse of Amoxicillin in P4); and T2-BD without in-feed antibiotics but with Saccharomyces boulardii RC009 (1 × 1012 colony forming unit/T feed). The feed conversion ratio (FCR), total weight gain (TWG-kg), and daily weight gain (DWG-kg) were determined. A post-weaning growth index (GI) was calculated and animals (160 days old) from each treatment were analyzed at the abattoir after sacrifice for carcass weight and respiratory tract lesions. Results: Pigs consuming probiotics had higher TWG and DWG than the control group. The group of animals with low body weight obtained the same results. Saccharomyces boulardii administration decreased diarrhea, and FCR reduction was related to a GI improvement. A significant increase in carcass weight and muscle thickness reduction was observed in animals received the probiotic post-weaning. Conclusion: Saccharomyces boulardii RC009, a probiotic additive, was found to improve the production parameters of pigs post-weaning and enhance their health status, indicating that it may be a promising alternative to prophylactic antibiotics.

Respiratory tract clinometry, fat thickness, haematology and productive parameters associated with direct-fed microbials used as growth promoter antibiotic alternative in weaned piglets.

The objective was to evaluate the effect of two probiotic yeast strains (Saccharomyces. cerevisiae RC016 and Kluyveromyces marxianus VM004) as a substitute of growth promoter antibiotics on health status and productive parameters in weaned piglets. Commercial line hybrid piglets (Choice n=200), weaned at 21 d age were allotted by sex, and assigned in 4 pens per treatment (2 pens males and 2 pens females), 10 pigs per pen divided into 2 blocks (with or without antibiotics). Dietary treatments included a basal diet (BD) supplemented with probiotic Saccharomyces cerevisiae RC016 and Kluyveromyces marxianus VM004 (100 g, 1 × 1010 CFU/g, respectively), with or without antibiotics, mixed per ton of growth phases diets. Pigs were fed ad libitum with treatments T1) BD with antibiotics (BD); T2) BD with antibiotics + Saccharomyces cerevisiae; T3) BD without antibiotics + Saccharomyces cerevisiae; T4) BD with antibiotics + Kluyveromyces marxianus; T5) BD without antibiotics + Kluyveromyces marxianus. The effects on respiratory tract clinometry, carcass quality, organs weight, blood haematology and productive parameters were evaluated. When clinical signs occurred (diarrhoea, stomach ulcers, respiratory signs), they decreased with both probiotics addition, mainly Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The productive parameters promotion by both probiotics was similar than that using antibiotics. The probiotics inclusion increased the carcass weight and significantly reduced the lumbar fat thickness (P ≤ 0.05). Supplementation with both probiotics demonstrated their ability to substitute the antibiotics use on clinometry, carcass quality and on the productive parameters promotion of weaned piglets.

Influence of technological procedures on viability, probiotic and anti-mycotoxin properties of Saccharomyces boulardii RC009, and biological safety studies.

The objective was to evaluate the technological processing (protection strategies and storage conditions) influence on viability, on probiotic properties and adsorbent aflatoxin B1 capacity of S. boulardii RC009. Also, the yeast biological safety was evaluated. Lyophilisation (DL) and encapsulation â€‹+ â€‹lyophilisation (EL) were conducted. Yeast protected with maltodextrin (M) or WPC stored at 4 â€‹°C reduced 1 and 2 log the viability, respectively. Yeast protected with M stored at 25 â€‹°C reduced 1 log after 70 â€‹d; with WPC the viability significantly reduced 3 log after 30 â€‹d. Technological processing improved the coaggregation's capacity with pathogens and DL process allowed the greatest AFB1 adsorption. S. boulardii 106 â€‹cells/mL were no toxic to Vero cells (p˂0.05). Saccharomyces boulardii RC009 protected with M or WPC maintained viability after technological processing. It possesses a great capacity for AFB1 adsorption and probiotic properties and could be considered a candidate with proven safety for functional food products development.

A Saccharomyces cerevisiae RC016-based feed additive reduces liver toxicity, residual aflatoxin B1 levels and positively influences intestinal morphology in broiler chickens fed chronic aflatoxin B1-contaminated diets.

The present study was conducted to investigate the ability of Saccharomyces cerevisiae RC016 (Sc)-based feed additive to reduce liver toxicity, residual aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) levels and influence intestinal structure in broiler chickens fed chronic aflatoxin B1-contaminated diets. A total of 100 one-day-old male commercial line (Ross) broiler chickens were divided into 4 treatments, with 5 pens per treatment and 5 broiler chickens per pen. Birds were randomly assigned to 4 treatments, which were namely treatment 1 (T1), control diet (CD); T2, CD + Sc at 1 g/kg; T3, CD + AFB1 at 100 µg/kg; T4, CD + Sc at 1 g/kg + AFB1 at 100 µg/kg. The liver histopathology of broiler chickens fed diets with AFB1 showed diffused microvacuolar fatty degeneration. The addition of Sc showed normal hepatocytes similar to the control. The small intestine villi from AFB1 group showed atrophy, hyperplasia of goblet cells, prominent inflammatory infiltrate and oedema. In contrast, the small intestine villi from birds that received the yeast plus AFB1 showed an absence of inflammatory infiltrate, and atrophy; moreover, a lower number of goblet cells compared to the groups with AFB1 was observed. The morphometric intestine studies showed that a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in the crypt depth values when Sc was applied to AFB1-contaminated diets. Although the intestinal villus height and apparent adsorption area did not show significant differences (P > 0.05), there was a tendency to improve these parameters. The residual levels of AFB1 in livers were significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in the presence of the yeast. The present work demonstrated that the addition of Sc alone or in combination with AFB1 in the broiler chicken diets had a beneficial effect in counteracting the toxic effects of AFB1 in livers besides improving the histomorphometric parameters and modulating the toxic effect of AFB1 in the intestine.

Pediococcus acidolactici and Pediococcus pentosaceus isolated from a rainbow trout ecosystem have probiotic and ABF1 adsorbing/degrading abilities in vitro.

Probiotics are being used in biological control of bacterial pathogens, as an alternative to antibiotics, to improve health and production parameters in fish farming. Fish farming production is severely affected by aflatoxins (AFs), which are a significant problem in aquaculture systems. Aflatoxins exert substantial impact on production, causing disease with high mortality and a gradual decline of reared fish stock quality. Some aspects of aflatoxicosis in fish, particularly its effects on the gastrointestinal tract, have not been well documented. The aim of the present study was to evaluate probiotic properties of lactic acid bacterial (LAB) strains isolated from rainbow trout intestine and feed. Moreover, AFB1-binding and/or degrading abilities were also evaluated to assess their use in the formulation of feed additives. Growth at pH 2, the ability to co-aggregate with bacterial pathogens, inhibition of bacterial pathogens, and determination of the inhibitory mechanism were tested. Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) adsorption and degradation ability were also tested. All strains were able to maintain viable (107 cells ml-1) at pH 2. Pediococcus acidilactici RC001 and RC008 showed the strongest antimicrobial activity, inhibiting all the pathogens tested. The strains produced antimicrobial compounds of different nature, being affected by different treatments (catalase, NaOH and heating), which indicated that they could be H2O2, organic acids or proteins. All LAB strains tested showed the ability to coaggregate pathogenic bacteria, showing inhibition percentages above 40%. Pediococcus acidilactici RC003 was the one with the highest adsorption capacity and all LAB strains were able to degrade AFB1 with percentages higher than 15%, showing significant differences with respect to the control. The ability of some of the LAB strains isolated in the present work to compete with pathogens, together with stability against bile and gastric pH, reduction of bioavailability and degradation of AFB1, may indicate the potential of LAB for use in rainbow trout culture.

Bakery by-products based feeds borne-Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains with probiotic and antimycotoxin effects plus antibiotic resistance properties for use in animal production.

The aim of this study was to select S. cerevisiae strains able to exert probiotic and antimycotoxin effects plus antibiotics resistance properties for use in animal production. S. cerevisiae LL74 and S. cerevisiae LL83 were isolated from bakery by-products intended for use in animal feed and examined for phenotypic characteristics and nutritional profile. Resistance to antibiotic, tolerance to gastrointestinal conditions, autoaggregation and coaggregation assay, antagonism to animal pathogens and aflatoxin B1 binding were studied. S. cerevisiae LL74 and S. cerevisiae LL83 showed resistance to all the antibiotics assayed (ampicillin, streptomycin, neomycin, norfloxacin, penicillin G, sulfonamide and trimethoprim). The analysis showed that exposure time to acid pH had a significant impact onto the viable cell counts onto both yeast strains. Presence of bile 0.5% increased significantly the growth of the both yeast strains. Moreover, they were able to tolerate the simulated gastrointestinal conditions assayed. In general, the coaggregation was positive whereas the autoaggregation capacity was not observed. Both strains were able to adsorb AFB1. In conclusion, selected S. cerevisiae LL74 and S. cerevisiae LL83 have potential application to be used as a biological method in animal feed as antibiotic therapy replacement in, reducing the adverse effects of AFB1 and giving probiotic properties.

Potentiation of the effect of a commercial animal feed additive mixed with different probiotic yeast strains on the adsorption of aflatoxin B1.

This study potentiates the adsorbent effect for aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) of a commercial additive (CA) of animal feed, containing inactive lysate of three Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains, active enzymes, adsorbents and a selenium-amino acid complex, when the additive was mixed separately with three S. cerevisiae strains. Levels of AFB1 of 20 and 50 ng g(-1) were used to determine the binding capacity of different concentrations of CA alone and in the presence of yeast strains, as well as toxin desorption, under gastrointestinal conditions. The viability of yeasts in the presence of CA was evaluated. The results show that the CA did not affect the viability of the yeast strains assayed. CA alone showed a low percentage adsorption. At 20 and at 50 ng g(-1), CA was highly efficient in adsorbing AFB1 when combined with RC016 and RC012 strains respectively. Desorption of AFB1 by CA alone and in combination with the yeasts increased with increasing levels of CA. The results demonstrate the improvement of CA in AFB1 adsorption once it is mixed with live yeasts.

Efficacy of corn silage inoculants on the fermentation quality under farm conditions and their influence on Aspergillus parasitucus, A. flavus and A. fumigatus determined by q-PCR.

Laboratory-scale silos were prepared to evaluate the efficacy of two different lactic acid bacteria (LAB) on the fermentation quality and mycobiota of corn silage. Their influence on Aspergillus species' variability by using the q-PCR technique was studied. Silage inoculated with Lactobacillus rhamnosus RC007 or L. plantarum RC009 were compared with uninoculated silage. Silos were opened after 1, 7, 45, 90 and 120 days after ensiling. At the end of the ensiling period, silos were left open for 7 days to evaluate aerobic stability. Rapid lactic acid production and decline in pH values were seen in the early stages of fermentation in silage inoculated with L. rhamnosus RC007. After aerobic exposure, a significant decline in lactic acid content was observed in untreated and L. plantarum RC009-inoculated silages. Counts for yeasted and toxigenic fungus remained lower, after aerobic exposure, in L. rhamnosus RC007-inoculated silage, in comparison with L. plantarum RC009 and uninoculated silages. Comparing the influence exerted by both BAL, it was observed that L. rhamnosus RC007 was more efficient at inhibiting the three fungal species tested whose DNA concentrations, determined by q-PCR, oscillated near the initial value (pre-ensiling maize). The ability of L. rhamnosus RC007 to produce lactic acid rapidly and the decline in pH values in the early stages of the fermentation along with the reduction of yeast and mycotoxicogenic fungus after aerobic exposure shows its potential as a bio-control inoculant agent in animal feed.