Testing of probiotic and bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria towards Eimeria sp.

Although the physiological and nutritional properties of many probiotic strains are well understood, the study of their antiprotozoal potential is only at the beginning. This study describes the in vitro effect of four probiotic/bacteriocin-producing strains towards poultry Eimeria sp. oocysts. The oocyst reduction (P < 0.05) was detected from 4 h and/or 6 h of the cultivation in broth till the end of the experiment (32 h) without species or origin dependence. No differences in the reductive effect of bacteriocin-producing and non-producing strains were found. The character of substances with anticoccidial effect remains to be determined.

Probiotic potential of enterococci isolated from canine feed.

Enterococci isolated from 28 different commercially available feeds (10-1000 CFU/mL) were identified and their probiotic potential was determined. Species identification of 22 selected strains was performed by intergenic length-polymorphism analysis (tRNA-PCR); PCR products were analyzed using capillary electrophoresis. Six strains were allotted to the species Enterococcus faecium, four to E. faecalis, one to E. hirae; the remaining strains were not classed. The strains were sensitive to vancomycin, ampicillin, tetracycline and rifampicin. They were able to adhere to human as well as canine intestinal mucus. They produced lactic acid (0.99-1.04 mmol/L) and most of them were urease-positive with sufficient survival in 5 % Oxgall-bile. They did not show any inhibitory activity due to antimicrobial substances. Plasmid DNA was detected in 8 strains, the bands responding to small molecular size (10 kbp). Considering all probiotically important properties, E. faecium strain EE3 was suggested as potential feed additive.

Oral application of Enterococcus faecium strain EE3 in healthy dogs.

The ability of canine strain Enterococcus faecium EE3 to survive in healthy dogs and its effect on microbiological and biochemical parameters was determined. The strain was individually applied to 11 dogs per os at a dose of 10(9) CFU/mL (differed from 2 to 3 mL) for 1 week and persisted in feces for 3 months after cessation of its administration (reaching average concentration of 6.83 +/- 0.95 log CFU/g). Seven d after administration, a decrease in staphylococci and a significant decrease in Pseudomonas-like bacteria was observed. On the other hand, concentration of lactic acid bacteria increased but the growth of E. coli was not influenced. In the blood samples of dogs after 0-1 d (before application) and the blood samples 1 week after application, total lipids decreased in 8 dogs; the total protein also decreased. The levels of cholesterol were brought to the physiological level, i.e. in blood samples with low cholesterol values it increased to the physiological level and in those with high levels it decreased; cholesterol was not influenced in 3 dogs.