Evaluation of enterococci for potential probiotic utilization in dogs

• Published in: Folia microbiologica 2019-03, Vol.64 (2), p.177-187
• Main Authors: Kubašová, Ivana, Lauková, Andrea, Hamarová, Ľudmila, Pristaš, Peter, Strompfová, Viola
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antiinfectives and antibacterials; Antimicrobial activity; Antimicrobial agents; Antimicrobial resistance; Applied Microbiology; Bacteria; Bile; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Carbohydrates; Cellobiase; Chymotrypsin; Cultivation; Dietary supplements; Dogs; Enterococcus; Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology; Fermented food; Gastric juice; Glucosaminidase; Glucosidase; Immunology; Intestine; Lactic acid; Life Sciences; Listeria; MefA gene; Microbiology; Original Article; Oxacillin; Probiotics; Strains (organisms); Survival; VanA gene
• ISSN: 0015-5632; 1874-9356
• DOI: 10.1007/s12223-018-0640-1

Some strains of the genus Enterococcus are effective probiotic bacteria if they meet safety and probiotic criteria. In our study, 17 canine enterococci previously selected from a group of 160 isolates based on safety criteria were screened for some functional properties relevant to their use as probiotics. The results of antimicrobial resistance testing showed sensitivity of eleven strains to EFSA recommended antimicrobials. In contrast, the most frequent resistance was observed for cefotaxim (15/17) and oxacillin (13/17). PCR detection of resistance genes ( vanA , vanB , vanC , tetM , tetL , ermB , and mefA ) revealed the presence of mefA gene in five Enterococcus faecium strains and vanA gene in one strain. The production of enzymes commonly associated with intestinal diseases was in general rare (β-glucosidase 2/17, α-chymotrypsin 1/17, N -acetyl-β-glucosaminidase 0/17, and β-glucuronidase 0/17). The measurement of strain survival rate (%) under the conditions simulating gastric (pH 2.5) and bile juices (0.3% bile) showed considerable differences between strains (