In vitro Survival of Microencapsulated Canine-Specific Probiotics Under Simulated Gastrointestinal Tract Conditions and During Storage

Abstract

The survival of probiotics in the gastrointestinal system of dogs is crucial for them to provide health benefits. However, probiotics must also endure various physical conditions during commercial production and storage. Therefore, this study employed the microencapsulation technique to ensure the survival of probiotics using alginate as the encapsulation material, both alone and in combination with goat milk (alginate-goat milk). The study assessed the survival rates of two probiotic LAB strains, Enterococcus hirae Pom 4 and Ligilactobacillus animalis FB2, in both types of matrices under simulated dog gastrointestinal conditions, during food production, and 28 days of refrigeration at 4°C. The findings revealed that alginate-goat milk microcapsules had the highest encapsulation yield, and the viability of microencapsulated LAB cells in the alginate-goat milk matrix was the best protection for both probiotic strains under all conditions, including pasteurization temperature. Even after pasteurization, viable counts exceeding 6 log cfu/g were observed, indicating the promising application of alginate-goat milk microcapsules for optimal protection, enabling probiotics to survive until they reach the intended site and provide health benefits to dogs.