Enterocin M and Sage Supplementation in Post-weaning Rabbits: Effects on Growth Performance, Caecal Microbiota, Fermentation and Enzymatic Activity.

The effects of enterocin (Ent) M and sage extract applied separately and in combination were investigated. EntM (E 50 µL/animal/day in water) and sage extract (S 10 µL/animal/day in water) were applied individually and in combination (E+S) to rabbits during 21 days of treatment. The rabbits' growth was not significantly influenced by the additives. Lower feed conversion (FC) was noted in the experimental groups compared with controls, with the lowest data detected in E. The antimicrobial activity of EntM was noted (in E+S: lactic acid bacteria-P < 0.01; in E, E+S: enterococci, enterobacteria-P > 0.05; in E: clostridia-P > 0.05). The most significant changes in fermentation between weaned and older rabbits were noted in amylolytic activity at day 21 (E P < 0.05; E + S P < 0.05); prolonged reduction effect of sage extract on amylolytic activity was observed. The activity of cellulase, pectinase and xylanase was higher in older than in younger animals. Decrease in lactic acid and volatile fatty acids was noted during EntM administration, with significant effect on propionic acid concentration (E P < 0.05; E+S P < 0.001). The sage extract reduced propionic acid (S P < 0.001) and butyric acid levels (S P < 0.05) and increased the concentrations of butyric, iso-valeric, valeric, caproic acids and lactic acid (P < 0.001). It seems to be that EntM and sage supplementation may improve the economy of rabbit farms (increased FC) and the health status of rabbits (reduction of spoilage microbiota, enhanced enzymatic activities in caecum).

Effect of thyme essential oil and selenium on intestine integrity and antioxidant status of broilers.

1. This study evaluated the duodenal wall integrity, antioxidant status as well as some immunological parameters of broiler chickens supplemented with 0.5 g Thymus vulgaris essential oil (EO)/kg diet and 0.4 mg Se/kg DM (dry matter) derived from sodium selenite. 2. A total of 192 one-d-old randomly divided chickens of both sexes (Ross 308 hybrid broilers) were divided into 4 treatment groups of 48 birds each. 3. The first group was fed on a nutritionally balanced basal diet (BD). The other three groups received BD supplemented with 0.5 g/kg thyme oil, or 0.4 mg Se/kg DM, or both feed additives together. 4. The results for the evaluated feed additives were (1) thyme oil - decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration in duodenal mucosa and kidney, increased immunoglobulin A (IgA) concentration in duodenal mucosa, stimulated phagocytic activity in blood, improved intestinal barrier integrity (2) selenium - increased glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity in blood and liver as well as thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) activity in duodenal mucosa, liver and in the kidney, (3) EO with selenium - increased thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) activity in duodenal mucosa. 5. These results demonstrated that thyme oil alone showed more effective potential to improve intestinal barrier integrity and antioxidant status as well as evoking an immune response in chickens, than if diets were supplemented with both thyme oil and selenium.

Combined administration of bacteriocin-producing, probiotic strain Enterococcus faecium CCM7420 with Eleutherococcus senticosus and their effect in rabbits.

The effect of Enterococcus faecium CCM7420 (EF) - enterocin-producing and probiotic strain of rabbit origin, Eleutherococcus senticosus extract (ES) and their combination (ES+EF) was determined on selected bacteria in faeces and caecum content, leukocytes phagocytosis, blood biochemistry and growth performance. Ninety-six weaned rabbits were divided into 3 experimental (ES, EF, ES+EF) and control group (CG). The rabbits in the groups ES and EF+ES were fed commercial diet enriched with E. senticosus extract (30 g/100 kg feed), rabbits in groups EF and CG were fed untreated diet. The rabbits in the EF and ES+EF groups were administered with an overnight culture of E. faecium CCM7420 strain (500 microl/animal/day into water, 109 CFU/ml). The treatment period lasted 21 days. The microbiological examinations in faecal samples confirmed the presence of E. faecium CCM7420 strain. In groups EF and ES+EF, the reduction of faecal coliforms, Pseudomonas-like sp., Clostridium-like sp. and S. aureus was recorded. Leucocyte phagocytosis significantly increased in all experimental groups (P < 0.0001) compared to CG. The lowest GPx values were measured in the ES+EF group. Higher total protein, triglycerides and calcium concentrations were detected in experimental groups compared to CG. The cholesterol concentration decreased in the ES group. The highest average daily gain was recorded in EF group; in ES+EF the better feed conversion ratio and no mortality was recorded. These results indicated that the dietary supplementation with the E. faecium CCM7420 and E. senticosus extract stimulate the leukocytes phagocytosis and reduces the potential pathogens in rabbits digestive tract without oxidative stress and improve the growth performance.

Effectivity of freeze-dried form of Lactobacillus fermentum AD1-CCM7421 in dogs.

The impact of probiotic supplementation of canine-derived strain Lactobacillus fermentum AD1-CCM7421 in freeze-dried form on quantitative composition of microbiota and short-chain fatty acid profile in feces of dogs was demonstrated by two independent studies (straightforward repeated-measures model; study I: a dose of 2 g per dog for 2 weeks, 10(8) CFU/g, n = 12; study II: 1 g per dog for 1 week, 10(7) CFU/g, n = 11. The results revealed a significant increase of lactic acid bacteria population persisting also after the cessation of probiotic application in both studies. A reduction of clostridia (study I, p (sum) < 0.01) and tested Gram-negative bacterial genera (coliforms, Aeromonas sp., Pseudomonas sp., study II, p < 0.05) was also detected. The strain AD1-CCM7421 colonized the canine digestive tract in sufficient numbers (10(5)-10(6) CFU/g) and it persisted in the majority of dogs after cessation of probiotic application. An increase of short-chain fatty acid concentrations (study I: butyric, succinic, valeric, formic acid) especially in the early post-treatment phase (p < 0.05) most likely led to a decrease of fecal pH value (p < 0.05) without negative influence on fecal consistency throughout the studies.

Enterococci from piglets--probiotic properties and responsiveness to natural antibacterial substances.

Fifty-five strains of enterococci isolated from the piglet intestine were characterized in vitro for probiotic activity. Identification of the isolates revealed Enterococcus faecium as the predominant species (84 %). Forty strains (73 %) were found to produce bacteriocin-like substances (only into solid media) with activity almost only toward Gram-positive genera. Thirty-eight % of strains were resistant to tetracycline, 27 % to chloramphenicol, 18 % to erythromycin and 16 % to vancomycin. In addition to control of strain safety, 6 % of isolates were beta-hemolytic and 16 % produced gelatinase. Seven strains selected for further probiotic assays exhibited sufficient survival rate at pH 3.0 after 3 h, in the presence of 1 % ox-bile and lysozyme after 1 d (over 107 CFU/mL in all tests). The adhesion of tested strains to porcine and human intestinal mucus was found in a similar range (1.4-14.0 % and 1.4-17.6 %, respectively). In accordance with current research effort to use and/or to combine various health promoting substances, the sensitivity of all isolates toward plant extracts and toward bacteriocins produced by animal and environmental strains was determined. All enterococci were sensitive toward oregano and sage extracts and toward one (E. faecium EF55--chicken isolate, activity of 25 600 AU/mL) of ten bacteriocin substances. It means that a similar anti-enterococcal potential of some bacteriocin substances may be observed as for certain plant extracts.