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Influence of Lactobacillus Acidophilus Inoculum on Gnotobiotic and Conventional Pigs¹

University of Nebraska^,5, Lincoln 68583

Abstract

Two trials were conducted to determine the effect of L. acidophilus (bacteria commonly found in probiotics) inoculum on gnotobiotic and conventional pigs. The localization and population levels of L. acidophilus (LA) in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of 24 gnotobiotic pigs (12 treated and 12 control) were determined by microbiological techniques. Each of the treated pigs received a 10-ml inoculum (2 x 10¹¹ viable cells/ml) of acidophilus culture (strain DDS 1) isolated from milk. The control pigs received a sterile deionized water inoculum. The inocula (10 ml) were given in milk daily for 3 days starting when the pigs were approximately 5 days old. At 3, 5, 7 and 9 days postinoculation, pigs were killed, and tissues were removed from seven locations in the GI tract. A 1-g sample of tissue and ingesta (contents) was homogenized and diluted for plate counts on MRS Agar. The treated group had higher LA populations (P<.001) than did the controls. The LA population remained relatively constant over the four periods for the treated group. The colonization did not appear to influence serum metabolites but did increase white blood cell counts (P<.06). In the treated group, the large intestine (cecum and colon) had higher LA populations (P<.001) than the stomach (cardiac and fundic regions) and small intestine (duodenum, jejunum and ileum). Fecal samples were cultured for determination of the correlation between fecal and tissue lactobacillus populations. The correlation coefficients were not significant, suggesting that fecal flora count is a poor indicator of GI flora. A second trial was conducted to determine the effects of LA inoculum on growth, E. coli and lactobacillus counts, hematology and serum protein levels in nursing, naturally farrowed pigs. When the pigs were 2 days of age, all litters (two control and two treated) were inoculated daily with either the LA culture (10 ml/day) or sterile water via stomach tubes for 3 days. The pigs were killed and the tissues excised and processed in the same way as in the trial with the gnotobiotic pigs. As the pigs grew older, lactobacillus populations increased linearly (P<.05) and E. coli populations decreased linearly (P<.01), regardless of treatment. The LA inoculum significantly increased the lactobacillus and coliform populations of the cardiac (nonglandular) region of the stomach. As with the gnotobiotic pigs, correlation coefficients between fecal and tissue flora were not significant for either lactobacilli or conforms. Average daily gain was slightly (P<.10) reduced by the LA inoculum, and a slightly higher (P<.10) white blood cell count was observed for the conventional pigs.

¹ Published as paper no. 5875, Journal Ser., Nebraska Agr. Exp. Sta.

² Dept. of Anim. Sci.

³ Dept. of Vet. Sci.

⁴ Dept. of Food Sci. and Technol.

⁵ Acknowledgement is made to Debbie Koester and Alice Teter for their assistance in preparation of the manuscript.