No abstract

Abstract:The protection of human health as well as the quality and safe food assurance becomes the priority of European research in the sphere of animal production. The negative experiences with the using of antibiotic growth promoters lead to subsequent reduction of their application. It is necessary to replace them by the growth promoters of natural origin, which are able to provide the comparable efficacy and will not contribute to the cumulative contamination of the environment. The probiotics represent an effective alternative to antibiotics and current research should be aimed at improving of their efficacy. This may be achieved by several methods. From the practical point of view, combination with synergistically acting components of natural origin seems to be the best way. Potentiated probiotics are defined as biopreparations containing production strains of microorganisms and synergistically acting components of natural origin which exert their intensified effect through effects on probiotic and gut microorganisms, the gut mucosa and the intestinal environment or immune system. A number of suitable components may be used for this purpose, such as prebiotics, non-specific substrates, plants and their extracts, metabolites of microorganisms and polyunsaturated fatty acids. In this report, the results of application of natural feed additives in animals are reviewed and their valuation for the enhancement of probiotic effectiveness is discussed.

No abstract

No abstract

ABSTRACT:The present study examined the impact of Enterococcus faecium on morphological development and production of short-chain fatty acids in the digestive tract of gnotobiotic piglets during milk nutrition and weaning. The experiment was carried out on (18) gnotobiotic piglets. The piglets were non-colostral and the feeding ration consisted of autoclaved milk substitute (Sanolac Ferkel, Germany). From the first day of life a probiotic strain of Enterococcus faecium was administered continually at a dose of 2 ml of inoculum (1 ml contained 1 × 10 4 CFU).The animals were weaned on Day 28. Gastrointestinal tract was collected from 18 gnotobiotic piglets slaughtered at three hours after birth and at the age of 2, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 days. The level of short-chain fatty acids was determined in the contents of jejunum, ileum and colon. Samples of intestinal mucosa (from duodenum, jejunum and ileum) were subjected to morphological analysis. We characterized regional variations in morphological and functional responses of the small intestine. The jejunal part of the intestinal tract of gnotobiotic piglets was characterized by relatively short crypts, extremely long villi and narrow lamina propria which contained only few cells up to Day 14 of life. Morphological examination showed that jejunal and ileal villi were significantly lower at 21 days of age (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, resp.). Depending on age, the concentration of both acetoacetic acid and acetic acid was higher in the jejunal contents. The difference was significant on Day 7 of age (P < 0.05) for acetoacetic acid and on Day 28 of age (P < 0.01) for acetic acid. The concentration of acetic acid in the colonal content of gnotobiotic piglets was significantly higher on Day 7 (P < 0.05) and 21 of age (P < 0.01). The study demonstrated that the respective bacterial species affected differently the intestinal morphology and concentration of short-chain fatty acids and suggested that postnatal bacterial colonization patterns may have long-term effects on intestinal health and development.