Undersökning av potentiella probiotiska organismer i tarmmikroflora hos häst med speciell hänsyn till Lactobacillus spp.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to isolate and identify Lactobacillus species indigenous to the gastrointestinal microflora of Swedish horses. These lactobacilli are to be used as probiotic candidates in research concerning antibiotic-associated diarrhoea in horses. Eight horses, age 6-10 years, were selected from a riding school for collection of faeces samples. Man Rogosa Sharp medium and gram staining were used for the selection of supposed lactobacilli. We could identify 33 isolates of supposed lactobacilli. With the use of API tests 22 of these 33 isolates could be identified. Out of the remaining unidentified 11 isolates, five isolates were selected for identification by PCR and by sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. In this study we could identify L. acidophilus, L. plantarum, L. fermentum, L. equi, L. mucosae and a previously unknown Lactobacillus sp. in the indigenous gastrointestinal microflora of Swedish horses. We also could identify the lactic acid bacterium (LAB) Leuconostoc lactis.