Abstract
In the present study, the effect of B. subtilis (107cfu/gm) supplemented to the basal diet of two groups of New Zealand rabbit of 28 days (n=15/group) on the count of commensal microflora ( Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli spp.) and some opportunistic pathogens (E. coli and C. perfringens type A) in the rabbit caeci was investigated. Results indicated that the count of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli spp. are significantly increased at all intervals (7, 14, 28 and 40 days post supplementation) in the supplemented group compared with non-supplemented group with P< 0.001. On the other hand, there is a significant decrease in the count of E. coli and C. perfringens specially at 40 days post supplementation from (5.8 log 10 cfu ±0.06) to (3.1 log 10 cfu ±0.07) and from (4.8 log 10 cfu ±0.09) to (2.3 log 10 cfu ±0.09) respectively with P< 0.001. B. subtilis proved to be tolerant to the simulated gastric and intestinal juice for one hour (100% tolerance). However, after two hours, the tolerance to the gastric juice decreased to 70%, with no effect of the artificial intestinal juice on the viability of the organism. In vitro, the antimicrobial effect of B. subtilis on C. perfringens type A by well diffusion method showed an inhibition zone of 10 mm. Results of in vitro effect of B. subtilis on C. perfringens count showed that at 103 dilutions of C. perfringens, its count was reduced 2.1×105 to 3×104 after adding B. subtilis, while at dilution of 102, the count was reduced from 2.4×105 to 7×103cfu/ml after adding B. subtilis. It could be concluded that B. subtilis can be used as a probiotic in rabbits ration due to its ability to increase the commensal microflora count beside its antibacterial effect against some opportunistic pathogens.
Highlights
In developing countries, livestock production provides food and play an important role in economic improvement and is considered as a significant income source for many family farms
It was found that the beneficial microflora e.g. Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus spp. obviously increased in group treated with B. subtilis and the opportunistic pathogenic organisms count were decreased in this group
These results are on line with Phuoc and Jamikorn (2017) who investigated the role of B. subtilis supplement on feed efficiency, growth performance and microbial population in the distal gastrointestinal tract of weaning rabbits and found that the average intestinal coliform populations were lowest (P
Summary
Livestock production provides food and play an important role in economic improvement and is considered as a significant income source for many family farms. The use of antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) in large scale to animal feed has contributed to the increase in livestock production. The prohibition on the sub-therapeutic use of antibiotics in animal feed resulted in decreased animal production (Cheng et al, 2014) due to higher rates of infections in livestock and has increased the risk of food-borne diseases in consumers (Hao et al, 2014). Several replacements/alternatives have been proposed to overcome the problems associated with the ban of AGPs on livestock production (Cheng et al, 2014). The use of probiotics is considered as one strategy that has proven effective
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