Identification of Lactobacillus strains isolated from faecal specimens of babies and human milk colostrum by API 50 CHL system

Abstract

Lactic acid bacteria are very significant to human health due to the production of some antimicrobial substances and ability to inhibit pathogenic bacteria. Furthermore, the bacteria are also used as starter culture in various food production. In this study,Lactobacillus strains were isolated from 100 human milk colostrum samples and 50 faecal samples of 3 to 30-day old infants who were fed on only breast milk. The isolatedLactobacillus strains were futher identified by API 50 CHL systems as Lactobacillus acidophilus (20.0%), L. acidophilus -3 (10.0%), Lactobacillus brevis (30.0%),Lactobacillus casei (15.0%,) and Lactobacillus plantarum (25.0%) from colostrum, andL. brevis (41.2%), Lactobacillus fermentum (11.8%), Lactobacillus reuteri (5.9%),Lactobacillus rhamnosus (11.8%) and L. plantarum (29.4%) from faeces. In conclusion, the higher isolation rate of Lactobacillus spp. in infantile faecal specimens than in colostrum may indicate based on the sterility of colostrum. Key words: Lactobacillus, MRS agar, API 50 CHL.