title: Study and use of the probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri in pigs: a review.
abstract: Probiotics are living microorganisms that provide a wide variety of health benefits to the host when ingested in adequate amounts. The bacterial strains most frequently used as probiotic agents are lactic acid bacteria, such as Lactobacillus reuteri, which is one of the few endogenous Lactobacillus species found in the gastrointestinal tract of vertebrates, including humans, rats, pigs and chickens. L. reuteri is one of the most well documented probiotic species and has been widely utilized as a probiotic in humans and animals for many years. Initially, L. reuteri was used in humans to reduce the incidence and the severity of diarrhea, prevent colic and necrotic enterocolitis, and maintain a functional mucosal barrier. As interest in alternatives to in-feed antibiotics has grown in recent years, some evidence has emerged that probiotics may promote growth, improve the efficiency of feed utilization, prevent diarrhea, and regulate the immune system in pigs. In this review, the characteristics of L. reuteri are described, in order to update the evidence on the efficacy of using L. reuteri in pigs.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China.
authors.forename: Chengli
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China.
authors.forename: Xiangfang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China.
authors.forename: Fengjuan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China.
authors.forename: Shiyan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Qiao
keywords: Antibiotics; Application; Lactobacillus reuteri; Pigs; Probiotics