title: Identification of lactobacilli isolated from the cloaca and vagina of laying hens and characterization for potential use as probiotics to control Salmonella Enteritidis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To select Lactobacillus strains from laying hens for potential use as probiotic to control Salmonella Enteritidis infection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and eighty-six lactobacilli were isolated from the cloaca and vagina of laying hens, and identified at the species level by a polyphasic taxonomic approach. All isolates belonged to the Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus reuteri or Lactobacillus salivarius phylogenetic groups, with the L. reuteri group being the most predominant group. Based on genetic diversity, about 50 representative strains were selected and tested for in vitro properties that could be predictive for probiotic activity in laying hens. Salmonella inhibition was shown to be species dependent, and correlated to some extent with the production of lactic acid. A selection of strains was evaluated in a S. Enteritidis challenge experiment. Two strains, L. reuteri R-17485 and Lactobacillus johnsonii R-17504 significantly decreased the colonization of chicks by S. Enteritidis in caeca, liver and spleen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lactobacilli isolated from laying hens were observed to inhibit Salmonella growth in vitro, most probably through production of lactic acid, and to decrease in vivo the S. Enteritidis colonization of chicks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data demonstrate that Lactobacillus isolates from laying hens may have probiotic potential in reducing S. Enteritidis infection.
authors: Flemish Government, Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research, Unit Technology and Food, Melle, Belgium. els.vancoillie@ilvo.vlaanderen.be
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Van Coillie
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Goris
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Cleenwerck
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Grijspeerdt
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Botteldoorn
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Van Immerseel
authors: J
authors: J
authors: De Buck
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Vancanneyt
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Swings
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Herman
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Heyndrickx
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000382:microbiology*; D002988:Cloaca / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012481:Salmonella Infections, Animal / Q000517:prevention & control; D012477:Salmonella enteritidis / Q000254:growth & development*; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology*