• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.1324-1329
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• 2008

This study was conducted to evaluate the potential of the transformed Lactobacillus reuteri Pg4 (T-Pg4) harboring the ${\beta}$-glucanase gene as a poultry probiotic. The probiotic properties of the T-Pg4 strain were evaluated in vitro by their adherence capability and acid and bile salt tolerance, and were evaluated in vivo by their survival and adhesion in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chickens. The results showed that the T-Pg4 strain exhibited resistance to acidic conditions and contact with bile salt, and adhered efficiently to the crop and intestinal epithelial cells of chickens in vitro. The T-Pg4 strain also could survive and colonize the gastrointestinal epithelium of the experimental SPF chickens in vivo. In addition, radial enzyme diffusion was used to demonstrate that the Lactobacillus spp. randomly isolated from the GIT of the SPF chickens fed T-Pg4 possessed ${\beta}$-glucanase secretion capability. These findings have demonstrated that the transformed L. reuteri Pg4 survives transit through the stomach and intestine, and may secrete ${\beta}$-glucanase in the chicken GIT. Therefore, it is suggested that this organism could be used as a multifunctional poultry probiotic.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.8
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• pp.1243-1251
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• 2007

This study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of using L. reuteri Pg4, a strain isolated from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of healthy broilers, as a probiotic. In preliminary in vitro studies the Pg4 strain was proven capable of tolerating acid and bile salts, inhibiting pathogenic bacteria and can adhere to intestinal epithelial cells. The probiotic properties were then evaluated on the basis of the broiler's growth performance, intestinal microbial population and cecal volatile fatty acid and lactic acid concentrations under conventional feeding. Dietary supplementation of dried L. reuteri Pg4 decreased significantly feed intake in grower chickens and improved significantly the feed conversion by 5% in a 0-6 weeks feeding period compared with the control group. The Lactobacillus counts in the crop, ileum, and cecum of the probiotic group were higher than in the control group. The L. reuteri Pg4 strain was traceable in the GI tract of probiotic supplemented chicks and showed capability of survival in the intestine for a protracted period. The probiotic group had a higher lactic acid concentration and lower pH value in the cecum than the control chicks. Probiotic supplement also affected the histology of the intestinal mucosa of chicks. The present findings demonstrated that L. reuteri Pg4 possesses probiotic characteristics and it is suggested, therefore, that the organism could be a candidate for a new probiotic strain.