Influence of a probiotic Enterococcus faecium strain on selected bacterial groups in the small intestine of growing turkey poults

Properties of a New Probiotic Candidate and Lactobacterin-TK2 Against Diarrhea in Calves

Calf diarrhea is an important problem that can result in death and which leads to economic losses. Probiotics in the gastrointestinal tract can be effective for the prevention of diarrhea. In this study, some strains were isolated from traditional fermented dairy products (Shubat and Kumiss) and the feces of Holstein calves and heifers. Some probiotic properties were determined using a total of 124 isolates and Lactobacterin-TK². Most of the isolates and Lactobacterin-TK² were adversely affected by pH 2.0; however, they maintained their viability at pH 4.0 and 0.3% bile salt. The most effective antifungals on yeast strains were nystatin, voriconazole, and ketoconazole; however, they were resistant to itraconazole and amphotericin B. The majority of LAB strains and Lactobacterin-TK² were susceptible to penicillin and tetracycline, whereas they were resistant to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Bacillus spp. strains were susceptible to enrofloxacin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and gentamicin but resistant to penicillin. Also, 71% of lactobacilli have high hydrophobicity, whereas other strains have low hydrophobicity or had no hydrophobicity. Antagonistic properties of some selected strains against pathogenic bacteria were examined. All of the LABs inhibited at least one pathogen. The inhibitory effect of yeast strains on pathogens could not be determined. Then, five of the LAB strains were genotypically identified as Enterococcus faecium, one as Lactobacillus casei, and the yeast strains were identified as Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Clavispora lusitaniae. L. casei K2 and S. cerevisiae S430b were selected as superior strains. These strains are capable of being used as a new probiotic candidate following in vivo trials.

The use of probiotics in animal feeding for safe production and as potential alternatives to antibiotics

Although the production of safe food for human consumption is the primary purpose for animal rearing, the environment and well-being of the animals must also be taken into consideration. Based on microbiological point of view, the production of healthy food from animals involves considering foodborne pathogens, on the one hand and on the other hand, the methods used to fight against germs during breeding. The conventional method to control or prevent bacterial infections in farming is the use antibiotics. However, the banning of these compounds as growth promoters caused many changes in animal breeding and their use has since been limited to the treatment and prevention of bacterial infections. In this function, their importance no longer needs to be demonstrated, but unfortunately, their excessive and abusive use have led to a double problem which can have harmful consequences on consumer health: Resistance to antibiotics and the presence of antibiotic residues in food. The use of probiotics appears to be a suitable alternative to overcome these problems because of their ability to modulate the immune system and intestinal microflora, and further considering their antagonistic role against certain pathogenic bacteria and their ability to play the role of growth factor (sometimes associated with prebiotics) when used as feed additives. This review aims to highlight some of the negative effects of the use of antibiotics in animal rearing as well as emphasize the current knowledge on the use of probiotics as a feed additive, their influence on animal production and their potential utility as an alternative to conventional antibiotics, particularly in poultry, pig, and fish farming.

Effects of Enterococcus faecalis on egg production, egg quality and caecal microbiota of hens during the late laying period

This study was conducted to determine the effects of diet supplementation of laying hens with Enterococcus faecalis (EF) on egg production, egg quality and caecal microbiota. A total of 360 Hy-Line Brown laying hens (72 weeks old) were divided into three groups with four replicates of 30 birds each. The laying hens were fed with the basal diet (Control), the basal diet + 3.75 · 10⁸ cfu EF/kg (Group I) or the basal diet + 7.5 · 10⁸ cfu EF/kg (Group II). The experiment lasted for 45 d. Eggs and caecal samples were collected at the end of the experiment. Results showed that dietary supplementation with EF did not affect the average daily egg weight, cracked egg rate, mortality and egg quality. However, EF supplementation caused a significantly increased laying rate and decreased feed/egg ratio (p < 0.05). The differences in caecal microbiota between Group II and the Control were significant. The relative abundance of Verrucomicrobia and Cyanobacteria at the phylum level, Rikenellaceae, Christensenellaceae and Veillonellaceae at the family level, and the Faecalibacterium, Christensenellaceae R-7 group and Eubacterium coprostanoligenes group at the genus level changed significantly in Group II compared with the Control (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the tested dietary supplementations with EF improved product performance and affected the caecal microbial community structure of laying hens during the late laying period.

Effects of dietary Enterococcus faecium NCIMB 11181 supplementation on growth performance and cellular and humoral immune responses in broiler chickens

This study evaluated the effects of dietary Enterococcus faecium NCIMB 11181 on growth performance and immune response in broiler chickens. A total of 360 1-day-old Arbor Acres male birds were randomly assigned to 4 treatments that administered different dosages of E. faecium (0, 5 × 107, 1 × 108, and 2 × 108 CFU E. faecium/kg diet). The results revealed that average daily gain (ADG) changed quadratically, while feed conversion rate (FCR) increased linearly from day 22 to 35 and day 1 to 35 (P < 0.05). Supplementation of E. faecium at 5 × 107CFU/kg diet resulted in increased ADG (P < 0.05) compared with the other groups. Birds fed with 2 × 108 CFU/kg E. faecium exhibited increased peripheral blood lymphocyte proliferation in response to concanavalin A (Con A) (P < 0.05) at day 35 and enhanced skin responses following phytohemagglutinin (PHA) injection (P < 0.05) at 12 h. Serum lysozyme activity at day 21 increased linearly with dietary E. faecium concentration (P < 0.05), the highest activity was observed in the 1 × 108 and the 2 × 108 CFU E. faecium groups (P < 0.01). Serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IFN-γ, and anti-inflammatory IL-4, IL-10 changed linearly or quadratically both at the initial and final phases (P < 0.05). In addition, BSA antibody titers were significantly increased following both primary and secondary inoculation when birds were fed with 1 × 108 or 2 × 108 CFU/kg E. faecium (P < 0.05). In comparison with other groups, birds received 5 × 107 CFU E. faecium exhibited the highest levels of serum IgG (P < 0.05) at day 35. Together, our results revealed that broiler diet supplemented with 5 × 107 CFU/kg E. faecium NCIMB 11181 was appropriate in relation to growth performance under normal conditions. Upon administration with higher dosages of E. faecium NCIMB 11181, obvious immune-stimulatory effects were observed following both cell-mediated and humoral immunity.

In vitro assessment of Enterococcus faecalis MTC 1032 as the potential probiotic in food supplements

Probiotics become important bacteria in our daily life due to their benefit on human health. In this study, a subset of bacterial strains from children was isolated and evaluated for beneficial probiotic traits such as antimicrobial activity, bile and acid tolerance, and pathogenic cell adherence inhibition. The strain with the best antimicrobial activity was selected for further characterization on the basis of morphological, biochemical characteristics and gene sequence. This strain was Gram-positive, oxidase and catalase-negative, and it produced acids by fermenting sugar and starch as carbon sources. Additionally, it could only hydrolyze bile-esculin, but not red blood cells. The 16S rDNA gene sequence revealed that this strain was Enterococcus faecalis. Interestingly, this strain effectively inhibited a variety of pathogens by acid and bacteriocin production and was bile-tolerant, able to survive under acidic condition. In the safety assessments, E. faecalis MTC 1032 could adhere to host epithelial cells and evidently inhibited pathogenic cell adhesion as demonstrated by cell reduction over time of E. coli ATCC 25922 and S. typhimurium ATCC 13311 on Caco-2 cell line. In summary, it was clearly represented that E. faecalis MTC 1032 provided suitable properties and could be a candidate as a probiotic strain in food supplements.

Effects of dietary supplementation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product to sows and their offspring on growth and meat quality

This study evaluated the effects of long term dietary supplementation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product (SCFP) in the diets for sows and offspring on growth performance, intestinal morphology, volatile fatty acid production, and carcass characteristics of offspring. Newly weaned pigs (n = 256) were allotted to 4 treatments based on a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Each treatment had 8 pens with 8 pigs per pen. First factor was maternal dietary effects (no SCFP, or SCFP at 12.0 and 15.0 g/d through gestation and lactation, respectively) and the second factor was dietary supplementation of SCFP to offspring (no SCFP, or SCFP at 0.2 and 0.1% for nursery and finisher, respectively). Pigs were on a 6-phase feeding program with assigned diets from nursery to slaughter. Body weights (BW) and feeder weights were measured at the end of each phase. On d 5 after weaning, 1 pig per pen was euthanized to evaluate intestinal morphology and volatile fatty acid production. At 115 kg of BW, 1 pig from each pen was slaughtered to measure carcass characteristics. Feeding diets with SCFP to sows or to their offspring had no effect on BW, overall average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and gain-to-feed (G:F) ratio during the nursery or finisher period. Feeding SCFP to sows tended to increase (P = 0.098) cecal butyric acid production in their offspring. Pigs with SCFP tended to have a greater (P = 0.084) concentration of acetic acid but a reduced (P = 0.054) propionic acid in colon digesta than pigs without SCFP regardless of maternal feeding regimen. Loin marbling scores were greater (P = 0.043) in pigs with SCFP than those without SCFP regardless of maternal feeding regimen. Overall, supplementation of SCFP in sow diets did not affect growth performance or intestinal morphology of their offspring. Supplementation of SCFP in diets of offspring from nursery to slaughter had little effect on growth performance. However, inclusion of SCFP from nursery to slaughter improved marbling score possibly by increased acetic acid and butyric acid production in the large intestine.

Chicken intestinal microbiota function with a special emphasis on the role of probiotic bacteria

Bacterial colonization of the chicken gut by environmental microbes begins immediately after hatching. Composition of the intestinal microbiota is dependent on the surrounding environment, diet variation, pathological conditions, antibiotic therapy, and others. The genomes of all these intestinal microbes form a microbiome which by far outnumbers the host's genome. As a consequence, the microbiome provides additional metabolic functions to the host, including nutrient utilization and absorption, fermentation of non-digestible dietary fiber, synthesis of some vitamins, biotransformation of bile acids, and the well-being of their chicken host. Microorganisms can also directly interact with the lining of the gastrointestinal tract, which may alter the physiology and immunological status of the bird. Since newly hatched broiler chickens demonstrate delayed commensal colonization and low bacterial diversity, the most effective and harmless method available to control the development and composition of the intestinal microbiota is a competitive exclusion treatment by applying probiotic bacteria. Additionally, recent research has shown that probiotic bacteria have a variety of beneficial effects, including counteraction of dysbiosis, promotion of gut health and homeostasis, enhancement of immune defenses and antagonization of infectious agents.

Effects of age and controlled oral dosing of Enterococcus faecium on epithelial properties in the piglet small intestine

Enterococcus faecium NCIMB 10415 is a licensed probiotic for piglets that has been shown to positively affect diarrhoea incidence and to act on transport properties and immunological parameters in the porcine intestine. The aim of the present study was to examine its effects on jejunal absorptive and secretory capacities around weaning. Furthermore, the possible involvement of heat shock proteins in the effects of probiotics on epithelial functions was investigated. A significant part of the probiotic was dosed orally to reduce the variability of intake of the probiotic. The piglets were randomly assigned to a control and a probiotic feeding group, the latter receiving 4.5×109 cfu/day of E. faecium directly into the mouth for 34 days starting after birth. Additionally, their feed was supplemented with the probiotic strain. Piglets were weaned at day 29 after birth. Ussing chamber studies were conducted with the mid-jejunum of piglets aged 14, 28, 31, 35 and 56 days. Changes in short-circuit current (ΔIsc) were measured after stimulation of Na+-coupled absorption with L-glutamine or glucose or with the secretagogue prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). The mRNA expression for SGLT1, CFTR and various heat shock proteins was determined. The transport properties changed significantly with age. The glucose-, L-glutamine- and PGE2-induced changes in Isc were highest at day 31 after birth. No significant differences between the feeding groups were observed. The mRNA of HSP60, HSC70, HSP70 and HSP90 was expressed in the jejunal tissues. The mRNA expression of HSC70 was higher and that of HSP60 was lower in the probiotic group. HSC70 expression increased with age. In conclusion, whereas age effects were observed on absorptive and secretory functions, controlled E. faecium dosing had no measurable effects on these functional parameters in this experimental setup. The possible role of heat shock proteins should be further evaluated.

Effects ofEnterococcus faeciumand dried whey on broiler performance, gut histomorphology and intestinal microbiota

The experiment was conducted to study the effects of supplementing a broiler starter diet with the probiotic Enterococcus faecium NCIMB 10415 and dried whey (80% lactose) on chick performance, gut histomorphology and intestinal microbiota. One-day-old male Ross 308 strain broiler chickens were fed diets containing: (i) control feed, (ii) control + 3.5% dried whey, (iii) control + 0.2% E. faecium, and (iv) control + 3.5% dried whey + 0.2% E. faecium. Birds were maintained in battery brooders confined in an environmentally controlled experimental room. The experiment lasted for 21 days. Birds fed E. faecium or E. faecium + dried whey exhibited significantly improved weight gain and feed conversion rate (FCR). Weight gain and FCR of treatment groups 1-4 were 628.7, 657.8, 690.9, 689.3 and 1.218, 1.193, 1.107, 1.116, respectively. Lactic acid bacteria counts in both the ileal content and excreta were significantly affected by dietary treatment. Supplementation of the E. faecium and dried whey separately and in combination increased lactic acid bacteria colonization in the ileal content from 4.2 to 5.0, 7.8 and to 5.1 log cfu/g, respectively (treatments 1-4). Similarly, supplementation of dried whey and E. faecium separately and in combination increased lactic acid bacteria in the excreta from 5.3 to 5.5, 8.0 and to 7.2 log cfu/g, respectively. Addition of the probiotic E. faecium increased villus height in the ileum (p < 0.05). Thus, supplementation of E. faecium enhanced broiler chick performance with respect to weight gain and FCR. No additive effect of E. faecium and dried whey was detected. Further studies are needed to investigate the relationship between E. faecium and dried whey with respect to gut histomorphology.