Lactobacillus-based ecoli inhibition

Abstract

A method of reducing growth of pathogenic bacteria in a gastrointestinal tract of an animal by providing to the animal a composition having 1×10 13 cfu of Lactobacillus probiotic microorganisms per kilogram of feed. When 1×10 4 viable cells of the Lactobacillus probiotic are added to 1×10 4 viable cells of Escherichia coli in a solution of MRS broth in a test tube and incubated in a water bath at 37° C. for six hours, the growth of Escherichia coli is reduced compared to a preparation of 1×10 4 viable cells of Escherichia coli mixed in a solution of MRS broth in a test tube and incubated in a water bath at 37° C. for six hours without the addition of Lactobacillus probiotic.

1 . A once-weekly fed feed additive for ruminant animals that inhibits growth of pathogenic bacteria in the post-ruminal digestive tract of the animal, wherein the feed additive comprises a prepared composition having 1×10 13  cfu of  Lactobacillus salivarius  probiotic microorganisms per kilogram of feed which reduces viable cells of  Escherichia coli  at a concentration of 1×10 4  by at least 62.71 percent. 
     
     
         2 . The feed additive of  claim 1 , wherein the prepared composition having 1×10 13  cfu of  Lactobacillus salivarius  probiotic microorganisms per kilogram of feed reduces viable cells of  Salmonella  at a concentration of 1×10 4  by at least 42.71 percent. 
     
     
         3 . A once-weekly fed feed additive for ruminant animals that inhibits growth of pathogenic bacteria in the post-ruminal digestive tract of the animal, wherein the feed additive comprises a prepared composition having 1×10 13  cfu of  Lactobacillus agilis  probiotic microorganisms per kilogram of feed which reduces viable cells of  Escherichia coli  at a concentration of 1×10 4  by at least 72.88 percent. 
     
     
         4 . The feed additive of  claim 3 , wherein the prepared composition having 1×10 13  cfu of Lactobacillus agilis probiotic microorganisms per kilogram of feed reduces viable cells of Salmonella at a concentration of 1×10 4  by at least 67.61 percent. 
     
     
         5 . A once-weekly fed feed additive for ruminant animals that inhibits growth of pathogenic bacteria in the post-ruminal digestive tract of the animal, wherein the feed additive comprises a prepared composition having 1×10 13  cfu of  Lactobacillus reuteri  probiotic microorganisms per kilogram of feed which reduces viable cells of  Escherichia coli  at a concentration of 1×10 4  by at least 60.05 percent. 
     
     
         6 . The feed additive of  claim 5 , wherein the prepared composition having 1×10 13  cfu of  Lactobacillus reuteri  probiotic microorganisms per kilogram of feed reduces viable cells of  Salmonella  at a concentration of 1×10 4  by at least 42.17 percent.