Effect of Streptococcus faecium C-68 in control of Escherichia coli-induced diarrhea in gnotobiotic pigs

Streptococcus faecium was fed to prevent colibacillosis in gnotobiotic pigs. Three strains of Escherichia coli were used. With strain O:K103, 987P:NM in pigs fed S faecium before the E coli challenge exposure, the pigs exhibited less severe diarrhea, recovered earlier, and produced better weight gains than did pigs given E coli only. Escherichia coli strains O157:K88ac:H19 and O8:K87, K88ab:H19 were more virulent. Pigs fed S faecium and challenge exposed with these 2 strains of E coli developed mild diarrhea; however, none of the pigs died, and they continued to eat well and gained weight. Pigs given E coli only developed severe diarrhea and lost weight, and 5 of 8 infected pigs died. Bacterial counts of E coli and S faecium from 3 areas of the small intestine and the cecum were all comparable among experimental groups. Histopathologic examinations demonstrated abundant colonization of the intestinal tract with S faecium. Seemingly, S faecium reduced the toxic effects of E coli and prevented generalized infection and death.     

Population of Salmonella serovar typhimurium in the cecum of gnotobiotic chickens with Escherichia coli and intestinal bacteria.

To test the interaction between various species of bacteria and Salmonella serovar typhimurium (S. typhimurium), the population of S. typhimurium was measured in the cecum of gnotobiotic chickens in the presence of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and one of the four intestinal bacteria; Lactobacillus acidophilus. Clostridium perfringens, Bifidobacterium thermophilum and Bacteroides vulgatus. Competitive exclusion of S. typhimurium by di-flora chicken was not demonstrated. But the population of S. typhimurium was temporarily suppressed in di-flora chickens with E. coli and L. acidophilus. In penta-flora chickens with E. coli and these four intestinal bacteria, the population of S. typhimurium was suppressed for only 2 days. In normalized chickens, the population of S. typhimurium was markedly suppressed.     

基于16S rDNA测序分析腹腔注射苦参碱的昆明小鼠肠道菌群结构

旨在通过16S rDNA测序技术分析腹腔注射苦参碱的昆明小鼠肠道菌群的结构。本研究将20只昆明小鼠随机分为2组,分别是苦参碱组(MT组)和阴性对照组(NC组),连续腹腔给药5 d,每天给药2次,收集各组粪便和各肠段组织,进行β多样性、Lefse及Metastats分析,qPCR检测差异菌种在各肠段的mRNA表达量,通过KEGG分析肠道菌群变化导致的代谢途径差异。稀释曲线结果显示,所测样本数据足以反映样品中物种多样性;β多样性分析结果显示,苦参碱可以调节肠道菌群的结构,Lefse及Metastats分析结果均显示,苦参碱显著增加了拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)、拟杆菌目(Bacteroidales)、Muribaculaceae、益生菌嗜酸乳杆菌(Lactobacillus acidophilus)的丰度,而显著减少了厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)、瘤胃菌科(Ruminococcaceae)和脱硫弧菌属(Desulfovibrio)的丰度。与Lefse及Metastats分析结果一致,qPCR结果显示苦参碱组小鼠粪便中嗜酸乳杆菌含量增加。同时,苦参碱可以增强嗜酸乳杆菌在各肠段的定植。通过KEGG分析发现,NC与MT组之间在聚糖的生物合成与代谢、运输与分解代谢等代谢途径存在显著差异。本研究结果表明,腹腔注射苦参碱可以显著改变昆明小鼠肠道菌群的结构,增加有益菌嗜酸乳杆菌在肠道中的定植,并造成了聚糖生物合成与代谢、运输与分解代谢等代谢途径的差异,为进一步揭示苦参碱发挥药效作用的机理奠定了基础。     

基于16S rDNA测序分析腹腔注射苦参碱的昆明小鼠肠道菌群结构

旨在通过16S rDNA测序技术分析腹腔注射苦参碱的昆明小鼠肠道菌群的结构。本研究将20只昆明小鼠随机分为2组,分别是苦参碱组(MT组)和阴性对照组(NC组),连续腹腔给药5 d,每天给药2次,收集各组粪便和各肠段组织,进行β多样性、Lefse及Metastats分析,qPCR检测差异菌种在各肠段的mRNA表达量,通过KEGG分析肠道菌群变化导致的代谢途径差异。稀释曲线结果显示,所测样本数据足以反映样品中物种多样性;β多样性分析结果显示,苦参碱可以调节肠道菌群的结构,Lefse及Metastats分析结果均显示,苦参碱显著增加了拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)、拟杆菌目(Bacteroidales)、Muribaculaceae、益生菌嗜酸乳杆菌(Lactobacillus acidophilus)的丰度,而显著减少了厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)、瘤胃菌科(Ruminococcaceae)和脱硫弧菌属(Desulfovibrio)的丰度。与Lefse及Metastats分析结果一致,qPCR结果显示苦参碱组小鼠粪便中嗜酸乳杆菌含量增加。同时,苦参碱可以增强嗜酸乳杆菌在各肠段的定植。通过KEGG分析发现,NC与MT组之间在聚糖的生物合成与代谢、运输与分解代谢等代谢途径存在显著差异。本研究结果表明,腹腔注射苦参碱可以显著改变昆明小鼠肠道菌群的结构,增加有益菌嗜酸乳杆菌在肠道中的定植,并造成了聚糖生物合成与代谢、运输与分解代谢等代谢途径的差异,为进一步揭示苦参碱发挥药效作用的机理奠定了基础。     

Mitsuokella jalaludinii inhibits growth of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium

Salmonella continues to be a significant human health threat, and the objective of this study was to identify microorganisms with the potential to improve porcine food-safety through their antagonism of Salmonella. Anaerobic culture supernatants of 973 bacterial isolates from the gastrointestinal tract and feces of swine were screened for their capacity to inhibit the growth of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. Growth inhibition of 1000-fold or greater was observed from 16 isolates, and 16S rRNA sequencing identified the isolates as members of the genera Mitsuokella, Escherichia/Shigella, Anaerovibrio, Selenomonas, and Streptococcus. Four isolates were identified as Mitsuokella jalaludinii, and the mechanism of Salmonella Typhimurium growth inhibition by M. jalaludinii was further investigated. M. jalaludinii stationary phase culture supernatants were observed to significantly inhibit growth, and featured the production of lactic, succinic, and acetic acids. Aerobic and anaerobic S. Typhimurium growth was restored when the pH of the culture supernatants (pH 4.6) was increased to pH 6.8. However, S. Typhimurium growth in fermentation acid-free media was the same at pH 4.6 and pH 6.8 - indicating a synergistic effect between fermentation acid production and low pH as the cause of S. Typhimurium growth inhibition. Furthermore, exposure of S. Typhimurium to M. jalaludinii culture supernatants inhibited Salmonella invasion of HEp-2 cells by 10-fold. The results identify M. jalaludinii as a possible inhibitor of Salmonella growth and invasion in swine, and thus a potential probiotic capable of improving food safety.     

Evaluation of the live vaccine efficacy of virulence plasmid-cured,and phoP- or aroA-deficient Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium in mice

We evaluated the protective efficacy of 94-kb virulence plasmid-cured, and phoP- or aroA-deficient strains of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (ΔphoP or ΔaroA S. Typhimurium) as oral vaccine candidates in BALB/c mice. Two weeks after the completion of 3 oral immunizations with 1 × 10⁸ colony-forming units (CFU) of virulence plasmid-cured, and ΔphoP or ΔaroA S. Typhimurium at 10-day intervals, S. Typhimurium lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-specific mucosal secretory immunoglobulin A (s-IgA) antibody titers were detected in the cecal homogenate, bile and lung lavage fluid, but not in the intestinal lavage fluid. In addition, the increases in S. Typhimurium LPS-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgA antibody titers in the serum were also observed 2 weeks after completing 3 oral immunizations with virulence plasmid-cured, and ΔphoP or ΔaroA S. Typhimurium. The series of 3 oral immunizations protected the mice against an oral challenge with 5 × 10⁸ CFU of the virulent strain of S. Typhimurium, suggesting that both the virulence plasmid-cured, and ΔphoP and ΔaroA S. Typhimurium strains are promising candidates for safe and effective live S. Typhimurium vaccines.     

Excretion in feces and mucosal persistence of Salmonella ser. Typhimurium in pigs subclinically infected with Oesophagostomum spp

OBJECTIVE: To determine interactions between Oesophagostomum spp and Salmonella ser. Typhimurium in pigs. ANIMALS: 30 healthy 5- to 6-week-old pigs. PROCEDURE: Pigs were allotted to 3 groups (n = 10 pigs/group) and treated as follows: group A was given Oesophagostomum dentatum and O quadrispinulatum; group B was given O dentatum, O quadrispinulatum, and S Typhimurium; and group C was given S Typhimurium only. Pigs in groups A and B were trickle infected with Oesophagostomum spp 3 times weekly throughout the study. After 19 days, groups B and C were inoculated once with S Typhimurium. One pig from each group was euthanatized on the day of Salmonella exposure and 2 and 4 days after Salmonella exposure. The remaining pigs were euthanatized on days 16 and 17 after Salmonella exposure. RESULTS: Pigs with dual infections of nematodes and bacteria (group B) excreted significantly higher amounts of S Typhimurium in feces, compared with nematode-free pigs (group C). In addition, group-B pigs excreted S Typhimurium on more days than pigs in group C. Salmonella Typhimurium was detected in the cecum and colon in the majority of pigs in group B, whereas S Typhimurium was only detected in the colon in pigs in group C. Immunohistochemical examination detected S Typhimurium in 7 of 9 pigs in group B but only 2 of 9 pigs in group C. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Interactions between intestinal nematodes and bacteria may play an important role in the dynamics of S Typhimurium infections.     

Influence of a probiotic Enterococcus faecium strain on selected bacterial groups in the small intestine of growing turkey poults.

A feeding trial was carried out with turkey poults, which were fed a diet containing 10(10) viable probiotic E. faecium NCIB 10415 cells/kg feed. Samples of the intestinal tract were analyzed for lactate, colony forming units of total anaerobic bacteria, lactic acid bacteria, enterobacteria and enterococci. Furthermore, metabolic activity of total eubacterial, lactobacilli and enterococci was recorded in selected RNA-extracts with specific ribosomal RNA oligonucleotide probes. Animals fed the probiotic diet showed continously increasing lactate concentrations throughout the sampling period up to day 42 of life. No correlation was found for colony forming units (cfu) of lactic acid bacteria, but metabolic activity of lactobacilli showed very close relation to continously increasing lactate concentrations. Throughout the feeding trial, enterococci in the control group continously increased to a maximum of 10(4) cfu/g wet weight, but 10-fold higher enterococci cfu were generally found in the treated group. However, rRNA content as measure for metabolic activity showed a drastic decline in both groups after high metabolic activities on day 7. This study shows that E. faecium NCIB 10415 (E. faecium SF68) stimulates other lactic acid bacteria in the small intestine, especially lactobacilli.     

Assessment of dietary supplementation with probiotics on performance, intestinal morphology and microflora of chickens infected with Eimeria tenella

We evaluated the effects of dietary supplementation with different preparations of probiotics on the performance of broiler chickens experimentally infected with 2 × 10(4) sporulated oocysts of Eimeria tenella at 14 days of age. Three hundred, day-old, Cobb-500 chicks, as hatched, were separated into 10 equal groups with three replicates. Two of the groups, one challenged with E. tenella oocysts and the other not, were given a basal diet and served as controls without medication. The other challenged groups were given the anticoccidial lasalocid (60 mg/kg) or Enterococcus faecium (5 × 10(8) or 5 × 10(9)cfu/kg feed), Bifidobacterium animalis (5 × 10(8)cfu/kg feed), Lactobacillus reuteri (5 × 10(8)cfu/kg feed), Bacillus subtilis (5 × 10(8)cfu/kg feed), or a multi-species probiotic mix at 5 × 10(8) or 5 × 10(9)cfu/kg feed, respectively. The trial lasted 6 weeks. Individual body weight, feed intake per pen and feed conversion ratio values were recorded weekly, along with the extent of bloody diarrhea, excreta oocyst numbers and bird mortality. Caecal lesions were assessed and intestinal samples were taken for histopathological and bacteriological evaluation from ileum and caecum. Overall growth performance of chickens fed the multi-species probiotic mix at both levels was higher (P<0.05) compared to the infected control. Overall oocyst shedding was lowest (P<0.05) in the lasalocid supplemented group. Villous height was higher (P<0.05) in Bacillus supplemented groups compared to infected controls. The Lactobacillus supplemented group had the highest (P<0.05) numbers of both Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium in ileum and caecum. In conclusion, dietary probiotics are promising for further investigation on improving intestinal health and growth performance of broiler chickens experimentally challenged with E. tenella.     

Infectivity and persistence of an outbreak strain of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium DT160 for house sparrows (Passer domesticus) in New Zealand

AIM: To examine the infective dose, incubation period and disease progression of an isolate of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium definitive type 160 (DT160) originating from a naturally-infected house sparrow (Passer domesticus) during an outbreak of the disease in New Zealand. METHODS: Thirty-six house sparrows captured from the wild and free of Salmonella spp were divided into six groups of six birds, housed individually, and inoculated orally with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) or 10(1), 10(2), 10(3), 10(5), 2 x 10(8) colony forming units (cfu) of the outbreak strain of S. Typhimurium DT160. The birds were observed for 10 days for clinical signs and/or mortality, and faecal samples were collected to determine excretion of S. Typhimurium. The birds were euthanised 11 days post-inoculation (p.i.) and a wide range of tissue samples were collected for histopathological examination, and culture and typing of Salmonella spp. Macro-restriction profiling by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) using XbaI was performed for the epidemiological typing of S. Typhimurium DT160 isolates. RESULTS: Mortality in house sparrows inoculated with S. Typhimurium DT160 was dose-dependent, and 2/6 birds inoculated with 10(5) cfu and all six birds inoculated with 2 x 10(8) cfu died during the study. Infected sparrows displayed few clinical signs, apart from diarrhoea and/or polyuria, fluffed plumage, and sitting on the floor of the cage. Faecal excretion of DT160 occurred briefly in two birds inoculated with 10(2) cfu and four birds inoculated with 10(3) cfu, on most days in five birds inoculated with 10(5) cfu, and continuously in six birds inoculated with 2 x 10(8) cfu. DT160 was isolated from the livers of three birds which received 10(3) cfu, five birds dosed with 10(5) cfu, and all six birds given 2 x 10(8) cfu. Following necropsy, histopathological lesions similar to those seen in the natural disease were observed in the liver or spleen of three birds which received 10(3) cfu, and all birds dosed with > or =10(5) cfu. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that an isolate of S. Typhimurium DT60 originating from house sparrows in New Zealand is pathogenic to these birds and that the response is dose dependent. The persistence and excretion of the pathogen may last for at least 10 days. This confirms that sparrows infected with DT160 could be a source of infection to humans and other in-contact animals.     

Interaction between probiotic lactic acid bacteria and canine enteric pathogens: a risk factor for intestinal Enterococcus faecium colonization?

Selected probiotic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have been shown to elicit positive health effects particularly in humans. Competitive exclusion of pathogens is one of the most important beneficial health claims of probiotic bacteria. The effect of probiotic LAB on competitive exclusion of pathogens has been demonstrated in humans, chicken and pigs. In this study we evaluated the ability of certain LAB strains (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12, Lactobacillus pentosus UK1A, L. pentosus SK2A, Enterococcus faecium M74 and E. faecium SF273) to inhibit the adhesion of selected canine and zoonotic pathogens (Staphylococcus intermedius, Salmonella Typhimurium ATCC 14028, Clostridium perfringens and Campylobacter jejuni) to immobilised mucus isolated from canine jejunal chyme in vitro. Adhesion of C. perfringens was reduced significantly by all tested LAB strains, between 53.7 and 79.1% of the control without LAB, the LAB of canine origin yielding the best reduction. The adhesion of S. Typhimurium and S. intermedius were not significantly altered by any of the LAB included in the study. Both enterococci tested significantly enhanced the adhesion of C. jejuni, to 134.6 and 205.5% of the control without LAB. E. faecium may thus favor the adhesion and colonization of C. jejuni in the dog's intestine, making it a potential carrier and possibly a source for human infection. Enhanced C. jejuni adhesion is a new potential risk factor of enterococci. Our results further emphasize the importance of safety guidelines to be established for the probiotics intended for animal use.     

Influence of bacteria on Clostridium perfringens infections in young chickens

When monoflora chickens with Lactobacillus acidophilus or Streptococcus faecalis were inoculated with Clostridium perfringens either in broth culture or resuspended in Gifu anaerobic medium broth or supernatant fluid, few or no chickens died. Approximately 50% of germ-free chickens died after inoculation of C. perfringens culture, whereas no conventional birds died after inoculation of broth culture. C. perfringens in the contents of duodenum from germ-free chickens numbered about 10(4) colony-forming units (CFU)/g after inoculation 10(8) CFU broth culture per bird, but in gnotobiotic and conventional chickens this organism decreased or was not detected. When C. perfringens was cultured in intestinal contents collected from germ-free chickens, C. perfringens proliferated but alpha toxin was not detected. These findings indicate that the pathogenicity of C. perfringens was suppressed by L. acidophilus or S. faecalis administered previously or inhibited by normal intestinal flora.     

Effects of zinc oxide and Enterococcus faecium SF68 dietary supplementation on the performance, intestinal microbiota and immune status of weaned piglets

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of zinc oxide (ZnO) and the probiotic Enterococcus faecium SF68 (Cylactin) dietary supplementation on the performance, intestinal microbiota and immune parameters of the weaned piglet reared under commercial conditions. The diets were devoid of antibiotic growth promoters (AGP). Two hundred and eight crossbred piglets were allocated to a 2 x 2 factorial experiment involving two levels of zinc oxide supplementation (0 or 3100 mg ZnO/kg feed), and two levels of E. faecium SF68 supplementation (0 or 1.4 x 10(9)CFU/kg feed (Cylactin ME10)). The diets were offered ad libitum for 20 days post-weaning. Piglet performance was assessed by calculating average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) on a pen basis. In addition, components of the distal ileal digesta, tissue-associated and mesenteric lymph node (MLN) bacterial populations were enumerated and serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and intestinal immunoglobulin A (IgA) concentrations were determined on days 6 and 20 post-weaning. Regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between the bacterial populations at the different sites. Supplementation of the post-weaning diet with either ZnO or E. faecium SF68 did not affect piglet performance. E. faecium SF68 did not affect gastrointestinal bacterial populations but did tend to reduce serum IgG (P<0.1) on day 20. Zinc oxide reduced anaerobic (P<0.05) and tended to decrease lactic acid (P<0.1) bacterial translocation to the MLN, and tended to increase intestinal IgA concentration (P<0.1) on day 20. Generally, luminal bacterial populations were found to be poor predictors of tissue-associated or MLN populations. ZnO and E. faecium SF68 dietary supplementation were ineffective under these trial conditions. Further investigations into the possible immunomodulator role of dietary ZnO are warranted.     

Precaecal and faecal digestibility of inulin (DP 10-12) or an inulin/Enterococcus faecium mix and effects on nutrient digestibility and microbial gut flora

The aim of the present study was to investigate the precaecal and faecal digestibility of inulin (DP 10-12) and inulin/Enterococcus faecium mix, and the effects of these substances on nutrient digestibility and microbial gut flora. For the experiment four of eight male pigs were fitted with an end-to-end ileo-rectal anastomosis (IRA) with preserved ileo-caeco-colic valve. The residual pigs were used as intact partner (IN). The animals received 1.5 kg/day of a diet based on corn, wheat, barley and soybean meal, supplemented with either 8 x 10(9) CFU E. faecium/kg, 2% inulin or a mixture of both substances. The digestibility trial was carried out from weeks 4 to 8 after surgery. Precaecal digestibility of inulin was assessed to be 57%. The addition of E. faecium to the diet resulted in a similar precaecal digestibility of inulin of 55%. Supplementation of E. faecium, inulin, and a mixture of E. faecium and inulin did not affect precaecal and faecal nutrient digestibility with the exception of the precaecal digestibility of CF which increased when inulin alone was supplemented. Bacterial population in the digesta of IRA and IN pigs were not affected by the experimental diets except the concentration of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. The supplementation of E. faecium to the diet significantly decreased the concentration of bifidobacteria and the population of lactobacilli inclined to decrease when IN pigs received the probiotic diet. The combination of E. faecium and inulin prevented a reduction of enterococci in faeces of IN pigs. The daily digesta excretion (DM) tended to decrease in IRA and IN pigs when inulin was supplemented. The results indicate that inulin (DP 10-12) in pig nutrition did partly react as a prebiotic as has been confirmed for humans. A combination of E. faecium and inulin improves the survival of the probiotic strain through the upper intestinal tract and allocates the synbiotic effect. Furthermore inulin might be able to show positive effects on precaecal and faecal microbial characteristics.     

Effects of microcin 24-producing Escherichia coli on shedding and multiple-antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella enterica serotype typhimurium in pigs

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of an Escherichia that produced microcin 24 (Mcc24) on shedding of of Salmonella enterica serotypeTyphimurium in swine and evaluate evidence of in vivo activation of the Mcc24-mediated, multiple-antibiotic resistance (mar) operon. ANIMALS: 36 crossbred weaned pigs. PROCEDURE: 24 pigs were allocated to 2 groups (12 pigs/group). Pigs in 1 group received daily oral administration of an Mcc24-producing E coli, whereas the other group received a non-Mcc24-producing E coli. All pigs were challenge exposed with Salmonella Typhimurium chi4232. A third group of 6 pigs received Mcc24-producing E coli and was challenge exposed with an Mcc24-sensitive, marA-deleted strain of Salmonella Typhimurium 4232. After challenge exposure, fecal samples from all pigs were cultured to detect shedding of Salmonella Typhimurium and Salmonella Typhimurium isolates were screened for resistance to ciprofloxacin. Fecal samples were collected throughout the study, and tissue samples were collected during necropsy. RESULTS: Differences in shedding of Salmonella Typhimurium were not detected between groups receiving Mcc24-producing or non-Mcc24-producing E coli. No significant differences were found in quantitative analysis between groups receiving Mcc24-producing and non-Mcc24-producing E coli. Evidence of mar activation was not detected. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Microcin-producing E coli did not exert an effect on shedding of SalmonellaTyphimurium or mar activation in pigs. It may be difficult or impractical to create the conditions required for Mcc24 to be an effective part of a food safety intervention to reduce shedding of Salmonella Typhimurium.     

A laboratory study of an inactivated bivalent iron restricted Salmonella enterica serovars Enteritidis and Typhimurium dual vaccine against Typhimurium challenge in chickens

A commercial inactivated iron restricted Salmonella Typhimurium and Salmonella Enteritidis vaccine was used to vaccinate chicks at 1 day and again at 4 weeks of age, with challenge by a high and a low dose of S. Typhimurium given either orally or by contact with seeder birds inoculated orally with a high dose of S. Typhimurium. In all three challenge regimes, the shedding of challenge strain was reduced significantly (p < 0.05) in vaccinated birds compared with unvaccinated controls. Vaccination reduced colonisation of internal organs after challenge by contact seeder birds. However, no effect of vaccination upon colonisation of internal organs after either high or low oral challenge was apparent. In conclusion, the data indicate that the vaccine should be a useful tool in the control of S. Typhimurium infection in chickens.     

Effects of the antimicrobial growth promoter tylosin on subclinical infection of pigs with Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether feeding tylosin, an antimicrobial growth promoter, to pigs was associated with increased risk of infection with and excretion of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium. ANIMALS: 17 healthy pigs. PROCEDURE: A commercial pelleted dry feed was given in 2 feeding trials. In trial A, 11 pigs were given feed with tylosin, 11 pigs were given feed without tylosin, and 11 pigs were given feed with tylosin before and feed without tylosin after inoculation with S Typhimurium. In trial B, 44 pigs were given feed that contained tylosin, and 44 pigs were given feed without tylosin. Three weeks after the start of each trial, pigs were orally inoculated with approximately 5 x 10(6) colony-forming units of S Typhimurium. Feces were examined for S Typhimurium, using semiquantitative microbiologic techniques before and for 5 or 6 weeks after inoculation. Serum antibody titers against S enterica were measured by use of ELISA. RESULTS: None of the pigs developed clinical signs of salmonellosis. However, after inoculation, S Typhimurium was isolated from feces of most pigs, and all but 2 pigs developed serum antibodies against S enterica. Significant differences were not detected between experimental and control groups in either trial. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results indicate that tylosin fed as an antimicrobial growth promoter to pigs may not be an important factor in promoting infection with or excretion of S enterica serotype Typhimurium.     

The effect of a probiotic Enterococcus faecium product in diets of healthy dogs on bacteriological counts of Salmonella spp., Campylobacter spp. and Clostridium spp. in faeces.

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of a probiotic on selected faecal bacteria of healthy dogs under different feed and environmental conditions. For the study 12 dogs kept in households were used for an 18-day supplementation with a patented commercially available strain of E. faecium NCIB 10415 (Enteroferm). In order to minimize losses the probiotic product was orally applicated once a day before meals at a dose of 2 g per dog (9.2 x 10(9) CFU). The faeces were collected before the beginning of the supplementation and at the end of the 18-day application period. In order to exclude contamination, all faeces were taken rectally. Before and at the end of the experimental period total Salmonella spp., Campylobacter spp. and Clostridium spp. counts were determined in fresh faeces using selective media. It was demonstrated that the 18-day application of the probiotic E. faecium product induced modifications on the gastrointestinal microflora in all dogs. While Salmonella spp. and Campylobacter spp. counts were in majority of the dogs higher than before the application. Clostridium spp. counts were significantly reduced in 10 of 12 dogs. According to the guidelines for the evaluation of the efficiency of microorganisms in dogs a relevant efficacy effect was supported by this data. However, a beneficial effect of the probiotic product on healthy dogs remains questionable.     

Effects of Enterococcus faecium supplementation and floor type on performance, morphology of erythrocytes and intestinal microbiota in broiler chickens

1. The experiment was to study the effects of floor type and probiotic supplementation (Enterococcus faecium) on performance, morphology of erythrocytes and intestinal microbiota of male Ross 308 broiler chickens. 2. The experimental design was a factorial 2 × 2 with 6 replicates. The factors were floor type (wire floor versus wood shaving litter) and the presence or absence of probiotic. 3. Birds housed on wood shavings exhibited significantly improved weight gain and food intake. 4. Addition of E. faecium led to significantly decreased food intake and gizzard weight. Supplementation with E. faecium positively influenced the ileal and caecal microbiota, with a significant decrease in the population of Escherichia coli. 5. Erythrocyte length decreased and erythrocyte width increased in the birds housed on wood shavings.