Composition And Methods For Inhibiting Pathogenic Growth

Abstract

The invention includes methods and compositions for treating an animal to inhibit the incidence and growth of E. coli O157:H7 and other pathogenic bacteria. The treatment method comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of Lactobacillus acidophilus or one or a combination of a number of other probiotic bacteria to an animal. An alternative treatment method comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a lactic acid producing bacterium such as Lactobacillus acidophilus in combination with a lactate utilizing bacterium such as Propionibacterium freudenreichii.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A composition comprising a  Lactobacillus  bacterium and a  Propionibacterium  bacterium, wherein the ratio in colony forming unit (CFU) between said  Lactobacillus  bacterium and said  Propionibacterium  bacterium in said composition is from about 1:1000 (CFU Lactobacillus : CFU Propionibacterium ) to about 1000:1 (CFU Lactobacillus : CFU Propionibacterium ), wherein said  Lactobacillus  bacterium consists essentially of strain LA51. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said composition is to be fed to a ruminant. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein said ratio in colony forming unit (CFU) between said  Lactobacillus  bacterium and said  Propionibacterium  bacterium is about 1:1 (CFU Lactobacillus : CFU Propionibacterium ), and wherein said  Lactobacillus  is fed to said ruminant at a dosage of at least 10 9  CFU/day to effectively treat or prevent said pathogenic infection. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 3 , wherein said  Propionibacterium  bacterium is a strain selected from the group consisting of P9, P42, PF24 and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 4 , wherein said- Propionibacterium  bacterium is strain PF24 and said  Propionibacterium  bacterium is fed to said ruminant at a dosage of at least 10 9  CFU/day to effectively treat or prevent said pathogenic infection. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said pathogenic bacterium is selected from the group consisting of  Escherichia coli, Salmonella  Spp.,  Salmonella typhimurium, Shigella  Spp., and  Staphylococcus aureus.    
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 6 , wherein said pathogenic bacterium is  Escherichia coli.    
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein said Escherichia coli is  Escherichia coli  O157:H7. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising animal feed or water. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said ratio between said  Lactobacillus  bacterium and said  Propionibacterium  bacterium is from about 1:10 (CFU Lactobacillus : CFU  Propionibacterium ) to about 1:1 (CFU Lactobacillus : CFU Propionibacterium ). 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein said ratio between said  Lactobacillus  bacterium and said  Propionibacterium  bacterium is about 1:10 (CFU Lactobacillus : CFU Propionibacterium ). 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein said ratio between the  Lactobacillus  bacterium and the  Propionibacterium  bacterium is about 1:1 (CFU Lactobacillus : CFU Propionibacterium ). 
     
     
         13 . A composition comprising a  Lactobacillus  bacterium and a  Propionibacterium  bacterium, wherein said  Lactobacillus  bacterium consists essentially of strain LA51 and said  Propionibacterium  bacterium consists essentially of strain PF24. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 13 , wherein said composition is to be fed to a ruminant. 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 13 , wherein said  Lactobacillus  bacterium and said  Propionibacterium  bacterium are both fed to said ruminant at a respective dosage of at least 10 9  CFU per day to effectively treat or inhibit said pathogenic infection.