Characterization of Lactobacillus acidophilus Isolated from Piglets and Chicken

Lactic acid bacteria were isolated from piglets and chicken and characterized. Lactic acid bacteria showing resistance to low pH and bile, adhesion to intestinal epithelium cells, and the inhibition of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. were identified as Lactobacillus acidophilus. L. acidophilus PF01 survived for 2 h in MRS broth adjusted to pH 2. L. acidophilus CF07 was less resistant than L. acidophilus PF01 to pH 2, but survived at pH 2.5 for 2 h. Both of isolates were able to grow in MRS broth containing 0.3% (w/v) bile, with L. acidophilus CF07 being more tolerant to bile than L. acidophilus PF01. L. acidophilus PF01 and CF07 adhered specifically to the duodenal and jejunal epithelium cells of piglet, and the cecal and duodenal epithelium cells of chicken, respectively. Both of isolates did not adhere to the epithelium cells of the various animal intestines from which they were isolated. When L. acidophilus was cultured with E. coli and Salmonella spp. in MRS broth, MRS broth containing 2% skim milk powder or modified tryptic soy broth at 37°C, L. acidophilus PF01 and CF07 inhibited the growths of E. coli K88 and K99, and S. enteritidis and S. typhimurium, respectively. Both of isolates were found to possess the essential characteristics of probiotic lactic acid bacteria for piglet and chicken. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2002. Vol 15, No. 12 :1790-1797)