Premium
Characterization of dominant cultivable lactobacilli and their antibiotic resistance profiles from faecal samples of weaning piglets
Author(s) -
Korhonen J.M.,
Sclivagnotis Y.,
Wright A. von
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.889
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2672
pISSN - 1364-5072
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2007.03483.x
Subject(s) - biology , lactobacillus salivarius , microbiology and biotechnology , lactobacillus , lactobacillus reuteri , lactobacillus gasseri , ampicillin , broth microdilution , 16s ribosomal rna , antibiotics , lactobacillus acidophilus , antibiotic resistance , bacteria , probiotic , minimum inhibitory concentration , genetics
Aims: To examine the lactic acid bacteria flora of weaning piglets, to define the distribution of different lactobacilli species in piglet faecal samples, and to determine the susceptibility phenotype to 11 antibiotic of different families. Methods and Results: The faecal samples were taken from piglets with good herd status at 11 and 28 days after weaning. The Lactobacillus isolates ( n = 129) from 78 animals housed in pairs in 39 pens were preliminarily identified by their morphology and biochemical characteristics. Partial 16S ribosomal DNA (16S rDNA) was used to identify the isolates to the species level, and RAPD (randomly amplified polymorphism DNA) profiles to differentiate Lactobacillus isolates to the strain level. Based on these studies, 67 strains were selected for antibiotic resistant tests. The most numerous Lactobacillus species found in the piglets was Lactobacillus reuteri ( n = 43). Other lactobacilli were L. salivarius ( n = 15), L. agilis ( n = 4), L. johnsonii ( n = 2), L. vaginalis ( n = 1), L. mucosae ( n = 1) and L. gallinarum ( n = 1). All the strains were susceptible to chloramphenicol, ampicillin and gentamicin. Two L. salivarius isolates and two L. reuteri isolates were found to be multiresistant. Conclusions: This study indicates that the faecal Lactobacillus flora in piglets consists mainly of L. reuteri , L. salivarius and L. acidophilus group lactobacilli, and the distribution of lactobacilli is similar between individuals of the same age and with the same diet. Most of the Lactobacillus isolates tested were sensitive to the antibiotics used in this study. Significance and Impact of the Study: Valuable information on Lactobacillus species distribution and their antibiotic resistance profiles in piglets is obtained.