Supplementation of Food with Enterococcus faecium (SF68) Stimulates Immune Functions in Young Dogs

Abstract

The gut microflora play a crucial role in several physiologic functions of the host, including maturation of the gut-associated lymphoid tissues during the first months of life. Oral administration of probiotic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) modulates the immune system of humans and some laboratory animals. This effect has never been examined in dogs; therefore, our aim was to study the capacity of a probiotic LAB to stimulate immune functions in young dogs. Puppies were allotted to two groups receiving either a control diet or a diet supplemented with 5 x 10(8) colony forming units (cfu)/d of probiotic Enterococcus faecium (SF68) from weaning to 1 y of age. Fecal and blood samples were collected from the dogs at different time points for the measurement of fecal immunoglobulin (Ig)A, circulating IgG and IgA, and the proportions of lymphoid cell subsets. Fecal IgA and canine distemper virus (CDV) vaccine-specific circulating IgG and IgA were higher in the group receiving the probiotic than in controls. There were no differences in the percentages of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells between the groups, but the proportion of mature B cells [CD21(+)/major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II(+)] was greater in those fed the probiotic. These data show for the first time that a dietary probiotic LAB enhance specific immune functions in young dogs, thus offering new opportunities for the utilization of probiotics in canine nutrition.

Immunomodulatory effects of ovine serum immunoglobulin in the growing rat

“…This is in line with our previous observations that villus length, crypt depth, villus/crypt ratio and villus surface area of the small intestine were greater (P , 0.001 to 0.703) in rats receiving the FDOI diet than in rats fed either the BD or the IOI diet (Balan et al, 2009). Plasma IgA plays an important role in inhibiting allergen absorption (Benyacoub et al, 2003). In this study, plasma IgA concentrations were also greater in rats fed the FDOI diet than in rats fed the BD diet.…”

Effect of probiotics on aspirin-induced gastric mucosal lesions

“…In studies of methotrexate-induced enterocolitis in rats, the administration of Lactobacillus plantarum strain 299v increased colonic and ileal levels of sIgA, and reduced mucosal inflammation (37,38). It has been shown that oral administration of Enterococcus faecium SF68 increases intestinal IgA production in dogs (39).…”

Administration of <i>Lactobacillus fermentum</i> I5007 to young piglets improved their health and growth

“…It has been reported that serum IgG concentrations in piglets are highly correlated with preweaning mortality (Cabrera et al, 2012). Previous studies have shown that probiotics enhanced immune activity in pigs, dogs and chickens (Benyacoub et al, 2003;Haghighi et al, 2006;Szabó et al, 2009). In the present study, L. fermentum administration resulted in a significant increase in the concentration of immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM and IgA) in piglets at 17 days of life.…”