Canine probiotic Bifidobacteria pseudolongum

Abstract

According to the invention there is provided a strain of lactic acid bacteria of the species Bifidobacteria pseudolongum obtainable by isolation from resected and washed canine gastrointestinal tract having a probiotic activity in animals. Methods of use and compositions comprising the Bifidobacteria pseudolongum of the present invention are also provided.

1 . A strain of  Bifidobacterium pseudolongum  obtainable by isolation from resected and washed canine gastrointestinal tract having a 16s-23s intergenic polynucleotide sequence having at least 93% homology with the sequence according to SEQ ID NO. 1.and having probiotic activity.  
     
     
         2 . The strain according to  claim 1  having the ability to survive and colonise the gastrointestinal tract of a companion animal.  
     
     
         3 . The strain according to  claim 2  having at least 33% growth when cultured in the presence of 0.5% bile salts.  
     
     
         4 . The strain according to  claim 2  able to maintain viability following 1 hour at pH 2.5.  
     
     
         5 . The strain according to  claim 1  having a 16s-23s intergenic polynucleotide sequence having at least 96% homology with the sequence according to SEQ ID NO. 1.  
     
     
         6 . The strain according to  claim 5 , wherein said strain is  Bifidobacterium pseudolongum  strain NCIMB 41199, or mutant thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The strain according to  claim 6  wherein the mutant is a natural, genetically modified or induced mutant.  
     
     
         8 . The strain according to  claim 2  wherein the companion animal is a dog.  
     
     
         9 . The strain according to  claim 2  wherein the companion animal is a cat.  
     
     
         10 . A method of maintaining or improving the health of a companion animal comprising orally administering a strain of  Bifidobacterium pseudolongum  obtainable by isolation from resected and washed canine gastrointestinal tract having a 16s-23s intergenic polynucleotide sequence having at least 93% homology with the sequence according to SEQ ID NO. 1.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein the strain is selected for the ability to survive and colonise the gastrointestinal tract of companion animals.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein the strain has at least 33% growth when cultured in the presence of 0.5% bile salts.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein the strain is able to maintain viability following 1 hour at pH 2.5.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein the strain has a 16s-23s intergenic polynucleotide sequence having at least 96% homology with the sequence according to SEQ ID NO. 1.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein said strain is  Bifidobacterium pseudolongum  strain NCIMB41199, or mutant or variant thereof.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15  wherein the mutant is a natural, genetically modified or induced mutant.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 10  for the regulation of the immune system of companion animals.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17  which is a method of treating or preventing autoimmune disease in said companion animal.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17  which is a method of treating or preventing inflammation in said companion animal.  
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 10  which is a method of maintaining or improving the health of the skin and/or coat system of said companion animal.  
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20  which is a method of treating or preventing atopic disease of the skin of said companion animal.  
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 10  which is a method of ameliorating or reducing the effects of aging in said companion animal.  
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 10  which is a method of preventing weight loss during and following infection in said companion animal.  
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 10  which is a method of treating or preventing gastrointestinal infection in said companion animal.  
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 24  which is a method of improving microbial ecology of said companion animal.  
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 25  wherein the levels of pathogenic bacteria in the faeces of said companion animal is reduced.  
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 26  wherein said pathogenic bacteria are selected from the group consisting of  Clostridia, Escherichia, Salmonella,  and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 10  which is a method of treating or preventing urinary tract ailments in companion animals.  
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 28  wherein said urinary tract ailment comprises urinary tract infection.  
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 28  wherein said urinary tract ailment comprises kidney stones.  
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 28  wherein said probiotic  Bifidobacteria pseudolongum  increase the degradation of oxalic acid in vitro.  
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein fiber digestion in said companion animal is increased.  
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein stress levels in said companion animal is reduced.  
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 33  wherein said stress levels are measured by determining the level of stress hormones selected from the group consisting of epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine, cortisol, C-reactive protein and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein the strain is fed to an animal in any amount from 1.0E+04 to 1.0E+12 CFU/animal per day.  
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 10  for the preparation of a composition intended for maintaining or improving pet health.  
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein the companion animal is a dog.  
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein the companion animal is a cat.  
     
     
         39 . A composition comprising a strain of Bifidobacterium pseudolongum obtainable by isolation from resected and washed canine gastrointestinal tract having a 16s-23s intergenic polynucleotide sequence having at least 93% homology with the sequence according to SEQ ID NO. 1. and having probiotic activity, and a carrier.  
     
     
         40 . The composition according to  claim 39  wherein the strain is selected for the ability to survive and colonise the gastrointestinal tract of a companion animal.  
     
     
         41 . The composition according to  claim 40  wherein the strain has at least 33% growth when cultured in the presence of 0.5% bile salts.  
     
     
         42 . The composition according to  claim 40  able to maintain viability following 1 hour at pH 2.5.  
     
     
         43 . The composition according to  claim 39  wherein said strain has a 16s-23s intergenic polynucleotide sequence having at least 96% homology with the sequence according to SEQ ID NO. 1.  
     
     
         44 . The composition according to  claim 43 , wherein said strain is  Bifidobacterium pseudolongum  strain NCIMB 41199, or mutant thereof.  
     
     
         45 . The composition according to  claim 44  wherein the mutant is a natural, genetically modified or induced mutant.  
     
     
         46 . The composition according to  claim 40  wherein the companion animal is a dog.  
     
     
         47 . The composition according to  claim 40  wherein the companion animal is a cat.  
     
     
         48 . The composition according to  claim 39  wherein said composition is a companion animal food.  
     
     
         49 . The composition according to  claim 48  wherein the composition is a cat food.  
     
     
         50 . The composition according to  claim 48  wherein the composition is a dog food.  
     
     
         51 . The composition according to  claim 48  wherein the composition is a wet animal food or a dry animal food.  
     
     
         52 . The composition according to  claim 51  wherein the composition is in the form a kibble, a chew or a biscuit.  
     
     
         53 . The composition according to  claim 39  wherein said composition is a companion animal food supplement.  
     
     
         54 . The composition according to  claim 53  wherein the composition is in the form of a gravy.  
     
     
         55 . The composition according to  claim 53  wherein the composition is in the form of a dairy product.  
     
     
         56 . The composition according to  claim 53  wherein the composition is in the form of a capsule, a tablet, or a pill.  
     
     
         57 . The composition according to  claim 39  comprising at least 0.001% of from about 1.0E+04 CFU/g to about 1.0E+12 CFU/g of the lactic acid bacteria.  
     
     
         58 . The composition according to  claim 39  wherein the Bifidobacterium pseudolongum bacteria are in the form of viable cells.  
     
     
         59 . The composition according to  claim 39  wherein the lactic acid bacteria are in the form of non-viable cells, or the constituent active fractions thereof.