Survival and persistence of Lactobacillus plantarum 4.1 and Lactobacillus reuteri 3S7 in the gastrointestinal tract of pigs

Abstract

Lactobacillus sp. are important inhabitants of the intestines of animals. They are also largely used as probiotics for both humans and animals. To exert beneficial effects, lactobacilli have to survive through the gastrointestinal transit. Based on bile-salt resistance, pH tolerance, antimicrobial activity and heat resistance, Lactobacillus plantarum 4.1 and Lactobacillus reuteri 3S7 were previously selected and used as probiotic additives in pelleted feeding trials. Both strains were fed to pigs (sows and piglets) at a cell number of ca. 10(10) viable cells per day. A polyphasic approach, comprising growth on selective media, Biolog System analysis, 16S rRNA gene sequencing and RAPD-PCR typing, was used to identify and differentiate L. plantarum 4.1 and L. reuteri 3S7 from other faecal Lactobacillus sp., L. plantarum 4.1 and L. reuteri 3S7 had the capacity to survive during the gastrointestinal transit and were found in the feaces at a cell number of 6-8 log cfu/g. Their persistence was shown after 6 days from the administration. Compared to untreated pigs, the administration of L. plantarum 4.1 and L. reuteri 3S7 significantly (P<0.05) decreased the population of Enterobacteriaceae. Besides, the beta-glucuronidase activity of all pigs decreased of ca. 23.0% during administration. The findings of this study showed that L. plantarum 4.1 and L. reuteri 3S7 have the potential to be used as probiotic additives in pelleted feed for pigs.

Feed Fermentation with Reuteran- and Levan-Producing Lactobacillus reuteri Reduces Colonization of Weanling Pigs by Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

“…L. reuteri TMW1.656 and LTH5794 are rodent lineage strains that differ physiologically and phylogenetically from porcine strains of L. reuteri (21,23). L. reuteri LTH5794 had no apparent influence on autochthonous lactobacilli, in keeping with the findings of previous studies feeding probiotic lactobacilli (47,48). Feed fermented with L. reuteri TMW1.656, however, decreased the abundance of autochthonous L. reuteri bacteria.…”

“…qPCR is widely used to detect bacteria in fecal and gut content samples (46). Because the viable L. reuteri bacteria that are present in the feed or the upper intestinal tract remain viable throughout gastrointestinal transit (21,28,47), quantification of DNA by qPCR indicates the presence of viable cells. The primers were designed to target strain-specific sequences in L. reuteri TMW1.656 and L. reuteri LTH5794, and the melting temperature of amplicons was routinely checked to verify specific amplification.…”

Screening and In-Vitro Analysis of Lactobacillus reuteri Strains for Short Chain Fatty Acids Production, Stability and Therapeutic Potentials in Colorectal Cancer

“…L. reuteri tolerance to intestinal conditions was evaluated, mainly, for a maximum of 4 h of exposure while being compared with other probiotic bacteria [45]. In an animal-based study, probiotic bacteria was administrated at 10 10 cfu, reached the intestine at 6-8 log, similarly to our strains, and persisted for days [46]. Another study, screening the resistance of L. reuteri bacteria to acidic conditions and bile acid, tested several strains for 2-3 h of exposure to different bile acid concentrations and showed a survival rate of between 35% and 70% after just 3 h, with a decrease of up to log 5.…”

Effect of probiotics in the pig nutrition on the pathogenic bacteria counts in the gut

“…2-4) demonstrated not only the increase of counts (cfu/g) of the probiotic strain E. faecium SF 68 in the course of the whole experiment, but also the growth reduction of the tested potentially pathogenic bacteria E. coli and Clostridium spp. These bacteria can cause various infections and diarrhoeic diseases that are very undesirable in the pig farming from the economic viewpoint (De Angelis et al, 2007).…”