Lactobacillus as a Probiotic Feed for Chickens

Identification of Lactobacillus strains from human mother milk and cottage cheese revealed potential probiotic properties with enzymatic activity

The main attempt of this study is to isolate, determine potential probiotic properties and enzyme production of some lactic acid bacteria (LAB). Among all isolates, two LAB strains isolated from human mother milk and cottage cheese revealed antimicrobial activity against some tested pathogenic strains. Both isolates inhibited all the tested pathogens except Escherichia coli. The two isolates were identified by morphological, biochemical properties and then by 16S rRNA gene sequencing technique as Lactobacillus acidophilus SAM1 and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum SAM2. Potential probiotic characters were investigated. Both strains survived in relatively low pH and high bile concentrations and were able to grow at 0.5% of pancreatin concentrations. Their growth decreased by increasing phenol from 0.2% till 0.5%. Both strains did not show hemolytic activity. Coaggregation potential was exhibited by the two strains against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. Hydrophobicity of Lactobacillus acidophilus SAM1 and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum SAM2, with ethyl acetate; were 88.1% and 82.8%, respectively. Lactobacillus acidophilus SAM1 was susceptible to Ampicillin, Penicillin, Erythromycin, Ciprofloxacin and Tetracycline; on the contrary, it resists Vancomycin and Cefoxitin; while Lactiplantibacillus plantarum SAM2 resists all tested antibiotics. Maximum growth was achieved using glucose as a carbon source and yeast extract as nitrogen source for both strains; however, glucose is the most preferred carbon source for microorganisms and it prevents the uptake of carbon from other sources like yeast by catabolite repression mechanism. Lactobacillus acidophilus SAM1 produces lipase enzyme, while Lactiplantibacillus plantarum SAM2 produces amylase and protease.

Potential of Lactobacillus plantarum IBB3036 and Lactobacillus salivarius IBB3154 to persistence in chicken after in ovo delivery

The aim of this study was to characterize and compare selected Lactobacillus strains originating from different environments (cow milk and hen feces) with respect to their applicative potential to colonize gastrointestinal track of chickens before hatching from an egg. In vitro phenotypic characterization of lactobacilli strains included the investigation of the important prerequisites for persistence in gastrointestinal tract, such as a capability to survive in the presence of bile salts and at low pH, enzymatic and sugar metabolic profiles, adhesion abilities, and resistance to osmolytes, temperature, and antibiotics. Regarding the resistance of lactobacilli to most of the various stress factors tested, the milk isolate Lactobacillus plantarum IBB3036 showed better abilities than the chicken feces isolate Lactobacillus salivarius IBB3154. However, regarding the acidification tolerance and adherence ability, L. salivarius IBB3154 revealed better characteristics. Use of these two selected lactobacilli isolates together with proper prebiotics resulted in the preparation of two S1 and S2 bioformulations, which were injected in ovo into hen Cobb500 FF fertilized eggs. Furthermore, in vivo tests assessing the persistence of L. plantarum IBB3036 and L. salivarius IBB3154 in the chicken gastrointestinal tract was monitored by PCR‐based classical and quantitative techniques and revealed the presence of both strains in fecal samples collected 3 days after hatching. Subsequently, the number of L. salivarius IBB3154 increased significantly in the chicken intestine, whereas the presence of L. plantarum IBB3036 was gradually decreased.

Phenotypic Characteristics and Probiotic Potentials of Lactobacillus spp. Isolated From Poultry

BACKGROUND

Lactic acid bacteria, especially Lactobacillus spp., have been considered as excellent probiotic microorganisms, because of their activities in reducing the enteric diseases and maintaining healthy poultry.

OBJECTIVES

The current study aimed to evaluate the phenotypic characteristics and the probiotic potentials of Lactobacillus spp. isolated from poultry.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 168 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were isolated from healthy six and twenty-one-day old chickens and their feed samples. The isolated bacteria were identified by morphological, biochemical, and molecular tests including Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Biochemical fingerprinting with Phene Plate system (Ph-P) was done and the acid and bile resistant lactobacilli were subjected to the antibiotic susceptibility test.

RESULTS

Amongst all of the examined LAB, 30.3% were resistant to bile and acid. Most of the isolated LAB (57.1%) belonged to the genus Lactobacillus with Lactobacillus brevis (78.1%) as the dominant species followed by L. reuteri (16.6%), L. plantarum (3%), and L. vaginalis (2%). The remaining isolates were identified as Pediococcus spp. (42.9%). The Ph-P cluster analysis of 75 L. brevis and 16 L. reuteri strains showed high phenotypic diversity. Whilst the results of Ph-P typing from L. reuteri strains showed low phenotypic variations especially among the strains sensitive to acid and bile salts.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, the results showed that some of the high potential probiotic LAB species existed in Iranian poultry.