On the use of probiotics to improve dairy cattle health and productivity

Abstract

Probiotics are genetically identifiable, live microorganisms that when administered in adequate amounts, confer appropriately sized health benefit (e.g. correcting dysbiosis, immunomodulatory effect) on a target host. In cattle, probiotics have shown promising results and long-term benefits in productivity when used on animals under stress. The health and production benefits of probiotics were attributed to improvement in fermentation in rumen and intestine, the stabilisation of rumen pH, and improvements in the intestinal barriers. In the bovine udder, a dysbiosis of the commensal intramammary microbiota and the presence of mastitis causing-bacteria has been linked to increased intramammary infections. Probiotic bacteria capable of biofilm formation inside the udder either serve as a barrier against pathogens or disrupt and replace biofilms formed by pathogens. Over the past two decades, several types of probiotics have been used as feed additives; however, the effect of probiotic use on disease prevention and cattle health and performance indicators, and characterisation of the immunomodulatory association between probiotic microbiota and host target system microbiota are yet to be quantified or documented.

Healthy Cattle Microbiome and Dysbiosis in Diseased Phenotypes

“…A study by Wallis et al 2018 assessed 13 LAB strains for their ability to form biofilms, producing a barrier against the pathogens and adhere to bovine glandular mammary epithelium. The biofilm formation and adherence were observed in all the strains, both characteristics showed strain dependency [134,147]. Another study by the same group investigated the ability of five LAB strains to remove and replace the biofilm formed by pathogenic staphylococci.…”

“…Probiotics are live microorganisms associated with human and animal health which confer a beneficial influence to the health when administrated in sufficient quantities [133]. To deliver this beneficial impact, the microorganisms should be alive, and the administration should be in effective doses to ensure abundance of the microorganisms [134]. Probiotics can exert their beneficial effect through various mechanisms.…”

“…In line with the global efforts to reduce antibiotics usage, researchers have applied probiotics as potential alternative approach for preventing and controlling mastitis [143,144]. LAB based probiotics have successfully stimulated the host immune response which may be approved as non-antibiotic mastitis therapy [134]. A study by Pellegrino et al 2017 investigated the immunomodulatory effect of L. perolens CRL1724 and L. lactis subsp.…”

“…The potential influence of cattle microbiome over its growth and immune system has been thoroughly investigated [2]. The commensal microbiota confers its beneficial effects to animal health through various mechanisms such as aid in digestion of host-indigestible plant fibre [3], and providing host with nutrients and energy sources (volatile fatty acids) [4], building units (carbohydrates, peptides, lipids) [1,5], modulation of immune system via cytokines, antibodies and stimulation of immune cells [6], creating physical barrier between pathogens and immune cells, competing with the pathogens for adhesion niches and nutrients [50,51] and inhibiting the pathogenic growth by production of antimicrobial compounds, such as organic acids, hydrogen peroxide, bacteriocins, and biosurfactants [134] [49].…”

Probiotics: Symbiotic Relationship with the Animal Host

“…The authors recommended using these beneficial microorganisms up to two weeks before slaughter to reduce the risk of carcass contamination. Dysbiosis of the commensal intramammary microbiota and the pathogenic bacteria that cause mastitis also influence the presence of breast inflammation [113]. Though poorly documented, it appears that lactic acid bacteria that produce bacteriocin or have the ability to adhere to cells can change the microbiota of the teat apex and/or decrease the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria present in it, and in turn, prevent or a gradually treat mastitis, leading some authors to suggest the direct use of bacteriocin in the teat apex as a treatment for mastitis [114,115].…”