Probiotics could represent an effective alternative to the use of synthetic substances in nutrition and medicine. The data concerning the efficacy of probiotics are often contradictory. This paper focuses on the enhancement of the efficacy of probiotics by their combination with synergistically acting components of natural origin. Maltodextrins can be obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis of starch and are suitable for consumption. Administration of Lactobacillus paracasei together with maltodextrin decreased the number of Escherichia coli colonising the jejunal mucosa of gnotobiotic piglets by 1 logarithm compared to the control group. Fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) are naturally occurring oligosaccharides, mainly of plant origin. L. paracasei administered in combination with FOS significantly increased counts of Lactobacillus spp., Bifidobacterium spp., total anaerobes and total aerobes compared to the control group as well as the L. paracasei group. It also significantly decreased Clostridium and Enterobacterium counts in the faeces of the weanling piglets compared with the control group. Dietary lipids influence the gastrointestinal microbiota and specifically the population of lactic acid bacteria. In gnotobiotic piglets the oral administration of an oil containing polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) significantly increased the number of L. paracasei adhering to jejunal mucosa compared to the control group. Our results showed that maltodextrin KMS X-70 and PUFA can be used to enhance the effect of probiotic micro-organisms in the small intestine, and similarly FOS enhance the effect of probiotic micro-organisms in the large intestine.Probiotics: Maltodextrin: Fructo-oligosaccharides: Polyunsaturated fatty acids

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The influence of the administration of Lactobacillus plantarum, maltodextrin Maldex 150 and Raftifeed IPX fructooligosaccharides on the inhibition of adhesion of E. coli O8:K88 to the mucosa of the jejunum, ileum and colon as well as on the organic acid levels was investigated in 33 conventional piglets. The counts of E. coli K88 adhering to the jejunal mucosa were significantly decreased (p < 0.05) in Lact. plantarum + Maldex 150 and Lact. plantarum + Maldex 150 + Raftifeed IPX groups. The counts of E. coli K88 adhering to the colonic mucosa of Lact. plantarum + Maldex 150 + Raftifeed IPX and Lact. plantarum + Raftifeed IPX groups were significantly lower (p < 0.05) than in Lact. plantarum and Lact. plantarum + Maldex 150 animals. The acetic acid levels in the ileum and colon of the Lact. plantarum + Maldex 150 + Raftifeed IPX group and Lact. plantarum + Raftifeed IPX group were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than in the Lact. plantarum and Lact. plantarum + Maldex 150 group. The combination of Lact. plantarum, maltodextrin Maldex 150 and Raftifeed IPX proved to be the most effective one to inhibit the counts of E. coli O8:K88 adhering to the intestinal mucosa of the jejunum and colon of conventional piglets.

ABSTRACT:Probiotics have been used with increasing frequency in nutrition and for prophylactic purposes during the last years. In the present study we investigated the effect of Lactobacillus fermentum AD1 -canine isolate on selected intestinal microbial groups, weight gain, organic acids, haematology, glutathione peroxidase and phagocytosis of leucocytes in 2-days-old Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). The results demonstrated that the 4-day application of this strain significantly increased the population of lactic acid bacteria -lactobacilli and enterococci in faeces (P < 0.01 and/or P < 0.001) and caecum of quail (P < 0.001) and significantly decreased the counts of E. coli in faeces (P < 0.05). The daily weight gain was increased by 14%. Although intestinal pH of both groups of birds was similar, the concentration of lactic acid was significantly increased in the experimental group (P < 0.05). The concentration of other organic acids (acetic, acetoacetic, formic, succinic, valeric, propionic, butyric) as well as blood glutathione peroxidase was not influenced. The index of phagocytic activity of leucocytes was significantly improved (P < 0.01).

ABSTRACT:The protective (ENT1) and therapeutic (ENT2) effects of enterocin A (Ent), produced by Enterococcus faecium EK13, against Salmonella enterica serovar Dusseldorf SA31 was determined in a model of gnotobiotic Japanese quails. Twenty-one 3 days old birds were divided into 3 groups of equal size; (ENT1, ENT2 and control group -CG). They were experimentally infected with SA31 (10 7 cfu/ml) per os. For the group ENT1, Ent A (200 µl of 25 600 AU/ml) was administered 8 h before infection with SA31 strain and for the group ENT2, treatment with Ent A was administered 8 h a�er infection; CG was infected with SA31 and not treated with Ent A. Sampling of the feces was performed 8, 24, 48 and 168 h a�er infection. At the end of the experiment also the content of the caecum and ileum was analyzed. A log 1.37 reduction of SA31 colonization in feces of the group ENT1 was found a�er 8 h in comparison with CG. A�er 24 h, a significant difference in SA31 colonization was observed when comparing CG and ENT2. A�er 48 h, a lower colonization of SA31 was found in both groups which continued until the end of the experiment (168 h). At the same time, reduction of Salmonella enterica serovar Dusseldorf was detected in the content of the caecum (2.44 log) and ileum (3.16 log) in ENT2 but not in ENT 1 when compared with control group. These observations indicate stronger therapeutic effect of Ent A than prophylactic one in the digestive tract of gnotobiotic Japanese quails.