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Administration of Bacillus coagulans in calves: recovery from faecal samples and evaluation of functional aspects of spores

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Abstract

An investigation was carried out into the recovery from calf faeces of Bacillus coagulans spores added to the feed as probiotic. For this purpose, Bacillus coagulans spores (9 log10 CFU g−1) were given daily to 10 calves during the whole farming periods; another 10 calves acted as controls. Throughout the trial the faecal spore counts were significantly (P < 0.01) higher in the treated group than in the controls (averaging 2.1 × 105 vs 3.7 × 104 CFU g−1). Bacterial cells were recovered from faecal samples and ribotyping matched the strain isolated from faecal sample to the clone administered to the animals. In addition, the recovered cells were found to maintain their functionality aspects of acid production, survival in artificial gastric juice and in the presence of bile, and attachment to human intestinal epithelial cells. The results further elucidate the fate of spore formers administered to calves, and this will help in the development of new species-specific nutritional strategies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Veterinary Science and Technology for Food Safety, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

    Barbara Ripamonti, Alessandro Agazzi, Antonella Baldi, Claudia Balzaretti, Carla Bersani, Silvia Pirani, Raffaella Rebucci, Giovanni Savoini, Simone Stella & Cinzia Domeneghini

  2. LAB-BIO, APPA Bolzano, Laives (BZ), Italy

    Alberta Stenico

  3. Department of Veterinary Science and Technology for Food Safety, Veterinary Medicine Faculty, Via Celoria 10, I-20133, Milan, Italy

    Barbara Ripamonti

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  1. Barbara Ripamonti
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  2. Alessandro Agazzi
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  3. Antonella Baldi
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  4. Claudia Balzaretti
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  5. Carla Bersani
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  6. Silvia Pirani
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  7. Raffaella Rebucci
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  8. Giovanni Savoini
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  9. Simone Stella
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  10. Alberta Stenico
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  11. Cinzia Domeneghini
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Correspondence to Barbara Ripamonti.

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Ripamonti, B., Agazzi, A., Baldi, A. et al. Administration of Bacillus coagulans in calves: recovery from faecal samples and evaluation of functional aspects of spores. Vet Res Commun 33, 991–1001 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-009-9318-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-009-9318-0

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