Lactic acid bacteria isolated from young calves. Characterization and potential as probiotics

NATALIA C MALDONADO; CLARA SILVA DE RUIZ; MARIA CLAUDIA OTERO ; FERNANDO SESMA; MARIA ELENA FÁTIMA NADER

RESEARCH IN VETERINARY SCIENCE

ELSEVIER SCI LTD

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2012 vol. 92 p. 342 - 349

0034-5288

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are widely used as probiotics to restore the ecological balance of different mucosa and to help in the physiological functions of newborn calves that are susceptible to a variety of syndromes. But the criteria for the selection of strains for the design of probiotic products are not available. Based in the host-specificity of the indigenous microbiota, 96 LAB isolates from faeces and oral cavity of calves were obtained. The beneficial properties were screened showing a small number of highly hydrophobic or autoagglutinating isolated. A group produced H202 and were able to inhibit pathogens, and only two strains were bacteriocin-producers. Some grew at very low pH and high bile concentrations. The strains sharing beneficial properties were identified genetically, assayed their compatibility and exopolysaccharide production. The results allow going further in the establishment of criteria to select strains to be included in a multi-strain-probiotic-product to be further assayed in animals.