Classification of lactic acid bacteria isolated from chigee and mare milk collected in Inner Mongolia

One hundred and seventeen isolates from chigee and 191 isolates from mare milk collected in Inner Mongolia were classified into six and 10 groups, respectively, based on the protein profiles obtained by sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE). A dendrogram on the basis of the molecular sizes of the protein bands was drawn and the similarity among the groups ranged from 96% to 44%. Representative isolates from all groups were identified by 16S rDNA sequencing and a phylogenetic tree was drawn. Furthermore, the results of carbohydrate fermentation tests of all groups were compared with those obtained by 16S rDNA sequencing and SDS‐PAGE analyzes. The isolates from chigee consisted of mainly Lactobacillus sp., Lactobacillus (Lb.) plantarum, Lb. pentosus and Lactococcus (Lc.) lactis ssp. cremoris were isolated at the rates of 48, 33 and 19%, respectively. The isolates from mare milk consisted of coccus, namely, Leuconostoc (Leuc.) mesenteroides, Leuc. pseudomesenteroides, Lc. garvieae, Lc. lactis ssp. lactis, Streptococcus (Sc.) parauberis and Enterococcus (Ec.) faecium. The isolation rates were 45, 19, 7, 8, 16 and 6%, respectively. The results demonstrated that the species isolated from chigee were different from those in mare milk.     

The investigation of probiotic potential of lactic acid bacteria isolated from traditional Mongolian dairy products

The aims of this study were to investigate the diversity of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from traditional Mongolian dairy products, and to estimate the probiotic potential of the isolated strains. We collected 66 samples of the traditional Mongolian dairy products tarag (n = 45), airag (n = 7), aaruul (n = 8), byasulag (n = 1) and eezgii (n = 5), from which 543 LAB strains were isolated and identified based on 16S ribosomal DNA sequence. The predominant species of those products were Lactobacillus (L.) delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus, L. helveticus, L. fermentum, L. delbrueckii ssp. lactis and Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis. However, we could not detect any LAB strains from eezgii. All LAB isolates were screened for tolerance to low pH and to bile acid, gas production from glucose, and adherence to Caco‐2 cells. In vitro, we found 10 strains possess probiotic properties, and almost identified them as L. plantarum or L. paracasei subspecies, based on 16S ribosomal DNA and carbohydrate fermentation pattern. These strains were differentiated from each other individually by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA analysis. Additionally, it was notable that 6/10 strains were isolated from camel milk tarag from the Dornogovi province.     

Genotypic and phenotypic characterization of lactic acid bacteria isolated from Italian ryegrass silage

Twenty-three lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from three cultivars (Akiaoba, Nagahahikari and Tachiwase) of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) silage were precisely characterized by a combination of phenotypic tests, genotypic 16S ribosomal DNA sequencing and rapid PCR-based analyses, focusing on their useful phenotypes for silage preparation as inoculants. We successfully identified both at the species and subspecies levels: phenotypically novel Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis, Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus coryniformis subsp. torquens, Lactobacillus curvatus, Lactobacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum, Lactobacillus sakei subsp. carnosus, Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. dextranicum and Pediococcus parvulus. This is the first report to elucidate the presence of Lactobacillus coryniformis ssp. torquens and Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. dextranicum in Italian ryegrass silages. Physiological and biochemical tests revealed that phenotypic characteristics are different among the different strains of the same species and subspecies, and that the isolates show unique and diverse phenotypes related to fermentation factors, such as available carbohydrates, optimal growth pH and temperature. These results suggest that, for various well-preserved silage preparations, the isolates may be useful in producing novel inoculants corresponding to their optimally climatic and ecological niches.     

Identification and characterization of lactic acid bacteria isolated from mixed pasture of timothy and orchardgrass,and its badly preserved silage

In order to understand the relationship between lactic acid bacteria (LAB) species and silage fermentation, a total of 65 LAB strains isolated from mixed pasture of timothy (Phleum pratense L.) and orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), and its badly preserved silages were subjected to phenotypic and genetic analysis. According to these analyses, the isolates were divided into 13 groups, including Enterococcus gallinarum, Lactobacillus acidipiscis, L. coryniformis subsp. coryniformis, L. coryniformis subsp. torquens, L. curvatus, L. paraplantarum, L. plantarum subsp. argentoratensis, L. plantarum subsp. plantarum, L. sakei subsp. carnosus, Lactococcus garvieae, Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris, Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides, Pediococcus acidilactici, Pediococcus pentosaceus, Weissella hellenica, Weissella paramesenteroides and Carnobacterium divergens. This is the first report to document that C. divergens, L. acidipiscis, L. sakei subsp. carnosus, L. garvieae, phenotypically novel L. lactis subsp. cremoris, E. gallinarum and W. hellenica are present in vegetative forage crops. L. plantarum group strains were most frequently isolated from the badly preserved silages. Some isolates showed a wide range of growth preferences for carbohydrate utilization, optimal growth pH and temperature in vitro, indicating that they have a high growth potential. These results are useful in understanding the diversity of LAB associated with decayed silage of timothy and orchardgrass.     

New lactic acid bacterial strains from traditional Mongolian fermented milk products have altered adhesion to porcine gastric mucin depending on the carbon source

Attachment of lactic acid bacteria to the mucosal surface of the gastrointestinal tract is a major property of probiotics. Here, we examined the ability of 21 lactic acid bacterial strains isolated from traditional fermented milk products in Mongolia to adhere to porcine gastric mucin in vitro. Higher attachment was observed with Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus strains 6‐8 and 8‐1 than with Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (positive control). Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris strain 7‐1 adhered to mucin as effectively as did strain GG. Heat inactivation decreased the adhesive ability of strains 6‐8 and 8‐1 but did not affect strain 7‐1. The adhesion of strains 6‐8, 7‐1 and 8‐1 was significantly inhibited when the cells were pretreated with periodate and trypsin, indicating that proteinaceous and carbohydrate‐like cell surface compounds are involved in the adhesion of these strains. The adhesion of strain 7‐1 was affected by the type of carbohydrate present in the growth medium, being higher with fructose than with lactose, galactose or xylose as the carbon source. The sugar content of 7‐1 cells grown on various carbohydrates was negatively correlated with its adhesive ability. We provide new probiotic candidate strains and new information regarding carbohydrate preference that influences lactic acid bacterial adhesion to mucin.     

Interaction of Campylobacter spp. and Human Probiotics in Chicken Intestinal Mucus

Campylobacter is the most common cause of bacterial food‐borne diarrhoeal disease throughout the world. The principal risk of human contamination is handling and consumption of contaminated poultry meat. To colonize poultry, Campylobacter adheres to and persists in the mucus layer that covers the intestinal epithelium. Inhibiting adhesion to the mucus could prevent colonization of the intestine. The aim of this study was to investigate in vitro the protective effect of defined commercial human probiotic strains on the adhesion of Campylobacter spp. to chicken intestinal mucus, in a search for alternatives to antibiotics to control this food‐borne pathogen. The probiotic strains Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Propionibacterium freudenreichii ssp. shermanii JS and a starter culture strain Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis adhered well to chicken intestinal mucus and were able to reduce the binding of Campylobacter spp. when the mucus was colonized with the probiotic strain before contacting the pathogen. Human‐intended probiotics could be useful as prophylactics in poultry feeding for controlling Campylobacter spp. colonization.     

Food preservative potential of gassericin A‐containing concentrate prepared from cheese whey culture supernatant of Lactobacillus gasseri LA39

Gassericin A (GA) is a circular bacteriocin produced by Lactobacillus gasseri LA39. In this study, GA‐containing concentrate was prepared using a cross‐flow membrane filtration device (30 kDa cut‐off) from the culture supernatant of Lb. gasseri LA39 cultivated in a cheese whey‐based food‐grade medium. The bacteriocin activity titer in the concentrate was 16 times as high as that of the culture supernatant and was completely maintained through each incubation at 4°C for 3 months, 37°C for 2 months, 60°C for 5 h, and 100°C for 30 min. The GA‐containing concentrate was used with glycine powder to make custard creams, and then four representative strains of custard cream spoilage bacteria (Bacillus cereus, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis, Achromobacter denitrificans and Pseudomonas fluorescens) were individually inoculated at c. 10³ colony forming units/g in the custard creams. Throughout 30 days of incubation at 30°C, all of the inoculated bacteria were completely inhibited by the combination of 5% (w/w) of the GA‐containing concentrate and 0.5% (w/w) glycine. This is the first highly practical application of GA to foods as a biopreservative, and the concentration method and the bacteriocin concentrate would contribute to biopreservation of several foods.     

Microbiota analysis of Caspian Sea yogurt, a ropy fermented milk circulated in Japan

We analyzed the microbiota of domestic ropy fermented milk, Caspian Sea yogurt (or 'kasupikai yohguruto' in Japanese), circulated in Japan. We collected six varieties from five localities. Lactococcus ( L) lactis ssp. cremoris was isolated from all samples as the dominant strain at levels of 10⁸−10⁹ CFU/g. We show this strain produces an extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) that causes the unique characteristic viscosity of the product. From analysis of the RAPD pattern of 60 bacterial isolates from the six samples, we found that 59 strains from a total of 60 isolates were identical and produced this viscosity. Furthermore, PFGE analysis of representative strains from each sample indicated that the isolates could be classified into four subgroups. This suggests these L. lactis ssp. cremoris strains found in Caspian Sea yogurt may have been slightly mutated during subculture in Japan. In addition, Lactobacillus (L.) sakei ssp. sakei were isolated from three samples; L. plantarum , Gluconoacetobacter sacchari and Acetobacter aceti were isolated from two samples; and L. paracasei , L. kefiri , Leuconostoc ( Leu. ) mesenteroides were isolated from one sample.     

扭角羚肺炎克雷伯氏菌的分离鉴定

本试验旨在报告四川省野生扭角羚自然生存过程中致病性细菌的检测及生物学特征。试验对发病死亡扭角羚病变组织进行细菌学检查及分离,对分别从肝脏、脾脏和肺脏分离得到的4株优势菌进行形态特征、生化特性和16SrDNA分子鉴定,判定为肺炎克雷伯氏菌。这4株菌对供试小白鼠均有致病性。测其LD50,分别为2.9×107、2.9×107、4.5×107和1.1×108 CFU/只。4株分离菌对供试的先锋霉素等敏感,对阿米卡星等中度敏感,对红霉素等耐药。推测这4株肺炎克雷伯氏菌是导致扭角羚死亡的主要病原菌。     

低温发酵乳品质特性研究

以青藏高原传统发酵牦牛乳中分离的保加利亚乳杆菌（编号为CGMCC2603）和酸乳球菌（编号为CGMCC1.3920）为研究对象，研究菌株低温发酵酸乳的感官特性、后酸化能力、粘度及双乙酰含量变化。结果表明试验菌株在25℃发酵的酸乳凝乳状态较好，冷藏14d后酸度分别提高29．2°T和8．5°T，后酸化较弱。冷藏期间粘度变化与发酵温度没有直接关系。低温有利于双乙酰的积累，双乙酰含量最高分别为12．04ug／mL和9．78ug／mL。本研究时开发低温发酵剂具有重要意义。     

Quantitative and Qualitative Bacterial Flora of Giant Freshwater Prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii Cultured in Earthen Ponds in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Quantitative and qualitative analyses of bacterial flora associated with the digestive tract of the giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii cultured in earthen ponds of Saudi Arabia were carried out. Bacterial counts and flora of prawn-culture pond water, sediment, and prawn carapaces, along with important physicochemical parameters, were investigated, and the isolates were identified to the genus or species level. Total viable counts (TVC; mean ± SD) varied between (1.0 ± 2.3) × 10⁴ and (1.7 ± 0.8) × 10⁵ colony-forming units (cfu) per milliliter in pond water, (5.8 ± 1.7) × 10⁷ and (1.1 ± 2.9) × 10⁹ cfu/g in sediment, (1.5 ± 0.9) × 10⁵ and (1.6 ± 2.4) × 10⁶ cfu/cm² in the carapace, and (9.1 ± 1.5) × 10⁶ and (8.7 ± 1.8) × 10⁷ cfu/g in the digestive tract of freshwater prawns. The bacterial flora was predominantly gram-negative, accounting for 80% of total isolated strains. Altogether, 21 bacterial species of 16 genera were identified. Aeromonas hydrophila, Shewanella putrefaciens, other Aeromonas spp., Vibrio spp., and Enterococcus spp. were the most abundant bacterial species (prevalence ≥10%) in pond water; A. hydrophila, S. putrefaciens, Vibrio spp., and Pseudomonas spp. were the most abundant in sediment; S. putrefaciens, A. hydrophila, Vibrio spp., Enterococcus spp., and Aeromonas spp. were the most abundant on the prawn carapace; and A. hydrophila, S. putrefaciens, Vibrio spp., Enterococcus spp., and Pasteurella spp. were the most abundant in the digestive tracts. In every population studied, Aeromonas spp., S. putrefaciens, Enterococcus spp., Vibrio spp., Pasteurella spp., Chryseomonas spp., and Pseudomonas spp. were present.     

Major microbiota of lactic acid bacteria from Matsoni, a traditional Georgian fermented milk

A total of 26 samples of Matsoni were collected in Georgia. From these samples 80 strains of lactic acid cocci and 173 strains of lactobacilli were isolated. The number of lactic acid bacteria varied between 10⁵ and 10¹⁰ colony forming unit (CFU)/mL. All the isolated lactic acid bacteria were thermophilic bacteria that could grow at 45°C. The predominant lactic acid bacteria were Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii spp. bulgaricus in 25 samples of Matsoni, while Lactobacillus helveticus was also a predominant species, together with the two previous species in one sample of Matsoni. We showed there was diversity in both S. thermophilus and L. delbrueckii spp. bulgaricus at the strain level by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA analysis.     

New lactic acid bacteria for skin health via oral intake of heat‐killed or live cells

Lactic acid bacteria play an essential role in the food industry in the manufacture of many fermented products (cheese, yogurt, fermented vegetables, etc.). Application of these organisms is now being extended to the area of health improvement, as their probiotic activities become known. Probiotics are defined as viable microorganisms that exert a beneficial effect on the health of the host when they are ingested in sufficient quantity. Lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria isolated from the human intestine are the most common probiotics used for human consumption. The development of new probiotics with new beneficial effects is eagerly awaited in the food industry. This review introduces Lactococcus, which are one of the genera of lactic acid bacteria and are mainly isolated from dairy products and fermented vegetables, as new probiotics, focusing especially on Lactococcus lactis H61, which improves skin status in Japanese women with oral intake of heat‐killed or live cells. The deduced mechanisms associated with the beneficial effects of strain H61 are also discussed.     

内蒙古发酵酸乳制品中乳酸菌的分离鉴定

以采集自内蒙古锡林郭勒盟正蓝旗的2份发酵酸乳样品为研究对象,采用传统纯化培养技术、16S rDNA基因序列测定并构建系统发育树的方法,对样品中的乳酸菌进行了分离鉴定,以期解析发酵乳中乳酸菌的多样性,积累食品微生物资源。研究结果显示,共分离15株乳酸菌,被鉴定为3个属9个种,3个属分别为乳酸乳球菌属、明串珠菌属和乳杆菌属,9个种分别为乳酸乳球菌叶蝉亚种（Lactococcus lactis subsp. hordniae,3株）、乳酸乳球菌（Lactococcus lactis,1株）、乳酸乳球菌乳脂亚种（Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris,1株）、乳明串珠菌（Leuconostoc lactis,3株）、肠膜明串珠菌肠膜亚种（Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. mesenteroides,1株）、肠膜明串珠菌右旋葡聚糖亚种（Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. dextranicum,1株）、植物乳杆菌（Lactobacillus plantarum,1株）、副干酪乳杆菌（Lactobacillus paracasei,3株）和干酪乳杆菌（Lactobacillus casei,1株）。综上表明,该研究采集的酸乳样品中乳酸菌资源丰富,是内蒙古传统乳制品优良发酵剂的研发和产业化生产的潜在微生物资源。     

Enrichment of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in hen eggs and broiler chickens meat by lactic acid bacteria

1. The aim of this work was to compare conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) concentrations in chickens supplemented with 4 American Tissue Culture Collection (ATCC) bacterial strains, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus lactis, Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus fermentum, and 4 isolates of Lactobacillus reuteri from camel, cattle, sheep and goat rumen extracts.

2. Micro-organisms were grown anaerobically in MRS broth, and 10⁶ CFU/ml of bacteria were administered orally to mixed-sex, 1-d-old broiler chickens weekly for 4 weeks and to 23-week-old layer hens weekly for 6 weeks.

3. The 4 strains were evaluated for their effects on synthesis of CLA in hen eggs and broiler meat cuts.

4. Administration of pure Lactobacillus and isolated L. reuteri strains from camel, cattle, goat and sheep led to significantly increased CLA concentrations of 0.2–1.2 mg/g of fat in eggs and 0.3–1.88 mg/g of fat in broiler chicken flesh homogenates of leg, thigh and breast.

5. These data demonstrate that lactic acid bacteria of animal origin (L. reuteri) significantly enhanced CLA synthesis in both eggs and broiler meat cuts.     

Effect of laboratory‐isolated Lactobacillus plantarum LGFCP4 from gastrointestinal tract of guinea fowl on growth performance,carcass traits,intestinal histomorphometry and gastrointestinal microflora population in broiler chicken

The study aimed to investigate the effect of feed supplements, viz Lactobacillus plantarum LGFCP4 (laboratory isolate from GIT of Guinea fowl), Lactobacillus acidophilus (NCDC, Karnal) and in‐feed antibiotic bacitracin methylene disalicylate (BMD) on growth performance, FCR, carcass traits and immune organs weight, intestinal histomorphometry and gastrointestinal microflora population in broiler chickens. In a completely randomized design, CARIBRO‐Dhanraja broiler chicks (n = 160) were used with four treatment groups. During the entire experimental duration of 35 days, treatment groups were provided with different dietary treatments (T1 – basal diet (negative control), T2 – antibiotic growth promoter BMD 20 g/100 kg feed (positive control), T3 – 1 × 10⁸ cfu of L. acidophilus/gm‐fermented feed +MOS 1 g/kg feed and T4 – 1 × 10⁸ cfu of laboratory‐isolated L. plantarum LGFCP4/gm‐fermented feed+ MOS 1 g/kg feed. After 35 days of experimental period, no significant results have been observed in different growth performance traits among treatment groups. Cut‐up parts and edible organs' weight remained unaffected by dietary supplementation, whereas weight of immune organs were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in L. plantarum LGFCP4‐supplemented group. At the end of feeding trial, significantly (p < 0.05) lower E. coli count was observed in crop of T4 birds, while in ileum, T2 and T3 showed lower count. In caeca, T2 group showed lowest E. coli count. Salmonella count in crop and ileum was significantly (p < 0.05) low in T3 and T4, while in caeca, T2 group showed lowest count. In terms of histomorphometry, duodenal villous height (VH), crypt depth (CD) and VH:CD ratio were higher for T3 and T4 and lowest values were obtained for T2 group. The results of the study showed that L. plantarum LGFCP4 isolated from GIT of guinea fowl can effectively replace in‐feed antibiotic growth promoters in broiler diets by altering intestinal villi morphology and improving the gut health by reducing the pathogenic microbial load.     

Evaluation of Zebrafish Danio rerio as a Model for Enteric Septicemia of Catfish (ESC)

Abstract

Zebrafish (also known as zebra danio) Danio rerio were injected intramuscularly with Edwardsiella ictaluri at doses of 6 × 10³, 6 × 10⁴, or 6 × 10⁵ colony-forming units per gram (CFU/g) or sterile phosphate-buffered saline (sham) or were not injected. Mortality occurred from 2 to 5 d postinjection (dpi) at rates of 0, 76.6, and 81.3% for the low, medium, and high doses, respectively, and E. ictaluri was isolated from dead fish. Survivors were sampled at 10 dpi and E. ictaluri was not isolated. Sham-injected and noninjected controls did not suffer mortality. Histopathology trials were performed in which zebrafish were injected with 1 × 10⁴ CFU/g or sham-injected and sampled at 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h postinjection for histological interpretation. Collectively, these zebrafish demonstrated increasing severity of splenic, hepatic, cardiac, and renal interstitial necrosis over time. To evaluate the progression of chronic infection, zebrafish were injected with 1 × 10² CFU/g and held for 1 month postinjection. Beginning at 12 dpi and continuing for an additional 2 weeks, zebrafish demonstrated abnormal spiraling and circling swimming behaviors. Histopathology demonstrated necrotizing encephalitis. In immersion trials, zebrafish were exposed to low, medium, and high doses (averaging 1.16 × 10⁵, 1.16 × 10⁶, and 1.16 × 10⁷ CFU/mL of tank water) of E. ictaluri for 2 h. Mortality occurred from 5 to 9 d postexposure at rates of 0, 3.3, and 13.3% for the low, medium, and high doses, respectively; E. ictaluri was isolated from dead fish. Channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus exposed to the medium doses suffered 100% mortality, and E. ictaluri was isolated from these fish. This study demonstrates the potential use of zebrafish as a model for E. ictaluri pathogenesis.     

Milk hygiene and udder health in the periurban area of Hamdallaye, Niger

The prevalence of intra-mammary infections in dairy herds was studied in Hamdallaye, Niger. A total of 956 milk samples were collected in 2007 from 239 lactating cows of four local breeds in eight traditional herds; the first sampling was undertaken in the dry season at morning milking, and the second in the rainy season at evening milking. Staphylococcus aureus, Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci (CNS) and environmental microorganisms were detected in significantly (p < 0.05) more samples in the rainy season, 55.2%, than in the dry season, 27.1%. Statistically significant (P < 0.05) differences in prevalence were observed among herds and according to lactation number. Infections were assigned to four classes, according to the major pathogen, and the respective mean somatic cell counts during the dry season were: S. aureus, 775 × 10³ cells/ml; CNS, 447 × 10³ cells/ml; environmental microorganisms, 407 × 10³ cells/ml; and non-infected, 262 × 10³ cells/ml. Most of the tested strains were sensitive to antibiotics, and selected strains of S. aureus (n = 15) were negative to the multiplex PCR tests for production of enterotoxins.     

Comparison of single- and multi-strain probiotics effects on broiler breeder performance,egg production,egg quality and hatchability

ABSTRACT

1. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of multi-strain probiotic (containing Lactobacillus acidophilus 2.5 × 10⁷ cfu/g, Lactobacillus casei 2.5 × 10⁷ cfu/g, Bifidobacterium thermophilum 2.5 × 10⁷ cfu/g and Enterococcus faecium 2.5 × 10⁷ cfu/g) and single-strain probiotic (Pediococcus acidilactici 1 × 10¹⁰ cfu/g) on broiler breeder performance and gastrointestinal health.

2. A completely randomised trial was conducted using 300 broiler breeder hens (Ross 308) aged 51 weeks old which were randomly allocated to 1 of 5 dietary treatments with 6 replicates per treatment in a 10 week trial. Treatments included (1) the basal diet a negative control, (2) basal diet supplemented with 0.1 g/kg multi-strain probiotic (MS), (3) basal diet supplemented with 0.1 g/kg single-strain probiotic (SS), (4) basal diet supplemented with 0.1 g/kg of both of probiotics (MS+ SS) and (5) positive control basal diet supplemented with 0.5 g/kg oxytetracycline antibiotic (OX).

3. Body weight, egg production, yolk weight, eggshell thickness and weight, Haugh unit, fertility and hatchability were determined. Results showed that dietary treatments had no significant effect on total hen house or total hatching egg production, egg weight, yolk colour index, shell weight, mortality, body weight, fertility, hatchability, oviduct and stroma weight or number of large and small yellow follicles (P > 0.05). None of the jejunum morphological parameters, apparent ileal digestibility of protein and ileal Lactobacillus population were influenced by supplemental probiotics (P > 0.05), although ileum Escherichia coli count was reduced by inclusion of dietary probiotics (P < 0.05).

4. It was concluded that although both probiotic treatments reduced coliforms, they did not improve broiler breeder performance or gastrointestinal tract (GIT) function.     

Microbiological Features of Staphylococcus schleiferi subsp. coagulans,Isolated from Dogs and Possible Misidentification with Other Canine Coagulase‐positive Staphylococci

Staphylococcus schleiferi subsp. coagulans has only rarely been isolated and identified from the external auditory meatus of dogs suffering from external otitis. Its morphological and basic biochemical characteristics are of relatively little value for identification, as it phenotypically resembles another coagulase‐positive staphylococci (CPS) and, consequently, may be easily misidentified as S. intermedius or even as S. aureus. In the present work, differentiation of S. schleiferi ssp. coagulans was therefore based on specific biochemical and genetic methods. All the strains were evaluated with the following commercial methods: Api Staph System (bioMérieux, Marcy l'Etoil, France), BBL Crystal Identification Systems (Gram‐Positive ID Kit and Rapid Gram‐Positive ID Kit; Becton Dickinson), and GEN‐PROBE^® AccuProbe, Staphylococcus aureus identification test (bioMérieux). Gram‐Positive ID System/GP database includes the broadest range of staphylococcal species and correctly identifies the majority of strains important in veterinary medicine. Therefore, it is an acceptable alternative to conventional methods for identification of canine staphylococcal isolates. Reliable differentiation of S. aureus from S. schleiferi ssp. coagulans and S. intermedius was feasible with AccuProbe for S. aureus, which gave positive results only for S. aureus; all other CPS tested were negative.