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Anaerobe2008; 14(4); 234-236; doi: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2008.04.002

Potential of enterococci isolated from horses.

Abstract: Faecal samples of 122 horses (from farms in Slovakia) were examined to select enterococci to study their probiotic potential for their further use as additives. Each gram of faeces contained 1.0-5.0 cfu (log 10) of enterococci. Of the 43 isolates, 25 (58.1%) were identified as Enterococcus faecium, 3 strains were (6.9%) Enterococcus mundtii and one strain was identified as E. faecalis. Fourteen isolates were not characterized further. A significant proportion of the isolates were resistant to kanamycin, vancomycin and gentamicin. Low urease activity of enterococci dominated. The values of lactic acid ranged from 0.98 to 1.91 mmol/L. Porcine fibronectectin and bovine lactoferrin were bound weakly by tested enterococci, while bovine fibrinogen was bound more strongly. Enterococci from horses did not bind bovine apotransferrin. The isolates adhered with the same ability to human as well as to canine mucus. At least one enterocin gene was detected among 16 analyzed isolates. Ent B gene was detected in all strains tested (16, 100%), followed by the genes ent A, ent P and ent L50B. Three suitable candidates-the strains of E. faecium EF 412, EF 462 and EF 491 were selected for further detail studies and possibilities to be used as additives.
Publication Date: 2008-04-18 PubMed ID: 18508395DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2008.04.002Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

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The research is focused on the use of enterococci bacteria isolated from horse feces, their potential as a probiotic and antibiotic resistance, and their potential application in additives.

Objective and Methodology of the Research

  • The primary objective was to investigate the probiotic potential of enterococci bacteria isolated from horse feces. The research team collected and examined fecal samples from 122 horses on farms in Slovakia.
  • Each gram of the collected feces contained between 1.0 and 5.0 cfu (colony-forming units) of enterococci bacteria. Out of the 43 isolated strains, 25 were identified as Enterococcus faecium, three as Enterococcus mundtii, and one as E. faecalis.
  • The team did not further characterize fourteen of the isolates.

Antibiotic Resistance Profile of Enterococci

  • A significant amount of the enterococci strains displayed resistance to the antibiotics kanamycin, vancomycin, and gentamicin.
  • Understanding the resistance profile of these enterococci strains is crucial as it has implications for their potential use as probiotics in the face of certain infections or conditions that require the use of these antibiotics.

Physiological Observations of Enterococci

  • The strains predominantly showed low urease activity, and they produced lactic acid, with values ranging from 0.98 to 1.91 mmol/L.
  • Enterococci strains displayed varied binding ability with different proteins. They weakly bound porcine fibronectin and bovine lactoferrin but showed a stronger binding with bovine fibrinogen. These strains did not bind to bovine apotransferrin.
  • The enterococci demonstrated a similar ability to adhere to both human and canine mucus, which points towards their potential for broad host range.

Enterocins and Potential for Further Study

  • At least one gene responsible for the production of enterocins, bacterial proteins with antimicrobial properties, was found in 16 of the analyzed samples. The Ent B gene was found in all 16 strains, followed by the Ent A, Ent P, and Ent L50B genes.
  • The presence of enterocin-producing genes may contribute to the probiotic potential of these strains, as enterocins can inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria.
  • Three strains, E. faecium EF 412, EF 462, and EF 491, were selected for further detailed studies because they appear to be suitable candidates for use as additives.

Cite This Article

APA
Lauková A, Simonová M, Strompfová V, Styriak I, Ouwehand AC, Várady M. (2008). Potential of enterococci isolated from horses. Anaerobe, 14(4), 234-236. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anaerobe.2008.04.002

Publication

ISSN: 1095-8274
NlmUniqueID: 9505216
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 14
Issue: 4
Pages: 234-236

Researcher Affiliations

Lauková, Andrea
  • Institute of Animal Physiology Slovak Academy of Sciences, Soltésovej 4-6, 04001 Kosice, Slovakia. laukova@saske.sk
Simonová, Monika
    Strompfová, Viola
      Styriak, Igor
        Ouwehand, Arthur C
          Várady, Marián

            MeSH Terms

            • Animals
            • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
            • Apoproteins / metabolism
            • Bacterial Adhesion
            • Bacterial Proteins / analysis
            • Bridged-Ring Compounds / metabolism
            • Colony Count, Microbial
            • Drug Resistance, Bacterial
            • Enterococcus / classification
            • Enterococcus / isolation & purification
            • Enterococcus / physiology
            • Feces / microbiology
            • Fibronectins / metabolism
            • Genes, Bacterial
            • Horses / microbiology
            • Lactic Acid / metabolism
            • Lactoferrin / metabolism
            • Mucus / metabolism
            • Probiotics / isolation & purification
            • Probiotics / metabolism
            • Protein Binding
            • Slovakia
            • Transferrin / metabolism
            • Urease / analysis

            Citations

            This article has been cited 13 times.
            1. Lauková A, Styková E, Focková V, Maďar M. Enterococcus moraviensis EMo 1-1Nik of horse origin:characteristics and potential bacteriocin-producing strain.. Vet Res Commun 2023 Sep;47(3):1471-1478.
              doi: 10.1007/s11259-023-10101-5pubmed: 36929156google scholar: lookup
            2. Fraczkowska K, Zak-Bochenek A, Siwinska N, Rypula K, Ploneczka-Janeczko K. Aerobic Commensal Conjunctival Microflora in Healthy Donkeys.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Mar 17;12(6).
              doi: 10.3390/ani12060756pubmed: 35327153google scholar: lookup
            3. Focková V, Styková E, Simonová MP, Maďar M, Kačírová J, Lauková A. Horses as a source of bioactive fecal strains Enterococcus mundtii.. Vet Res Commun 2022 Sep;46(3):739-747.
              doi: 10.1007/s11259-022-09893-9pubmed: 35147847google scholar: lookup
            4. Lauková A, Tomáška M, Kmeť V, Strompfová V, Pogány Simonová M, Dvorožňáková E. Slovak Local Ewe's Milk Lump Cheese, a Source of Beneficial Enterococcus durans Strain.. Foods 2021 Dec 13;10(12).
              doi: 10.3390/foods10123091pubmed: 34945639google scholar: lookup
            5. Lauková A, Focková V, Pogány Simonová M. Enterococcus mundtii Isolated from Slovak Raw Goat Milk and Its Bacteriocinogenic Potential.. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020 Dec 18;17(24).
              doi: 10.3390/ijerph17249504pubmed: 33352988google scholar: lookup
            6. Lauková A, Pogány Simonová M, Focková V, Kološta M, Tomáška M, Dvorožňáková E. Susceptibility to Bacteriocins in Biofilm-Forming, Variable Staphylococci Isolated from Local Slovak Ewes' Milk Lump Cheeses.. Foods 2020 Sep 22;9(9).
              doi: 10.3390/foods9091335pubmed: 32971750google scholar: lookup
            7. Ščerbová J, Kandričáková A, Hamarová Ľ, Lauková A. Relation to enterocins and herbal extracts of fecal hemolytic Escherichia coli from domestic ducks detected with MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.. Poult Sci 2019 Nov 1;98(11):5925-5931.
              doi: 10.3382/ps/pez371pubmed: 31298292google scholar: lookup
            8. Bino E, Lauková A, Ščerbová J, Kubašová I, Kandričáková A, Strompfová V, Miltko R, Belzecki G. Fecal coagulase-negative staphylococci from horses, their species variability, and biofilm formation.. Folia Microbiol (Praha) 2019 Nov;64(6):719-726.
              doi: 10.1007/s12223-019-00684-5pubmed: 30706301google scholar: lookup
            9. Tinrat S, Khuntayaporn P, Thirapanmethee K, Chomnawang MT. In vitro assessment of Enterococcus faecalis MTC 1032 as the potential probiotic in food supplements.. J Food Sci Technol 2018 Jul;55(7):2384-2394.
              doi: 10.1007/s13197-018-3155-5pubmed: 30042553google scholar: lookup
            10. Lauková A, Kubašová I, Kandričáková A, Strompfová V, Žitňan R, Simonová MP. Relation to enterocins of variable Aeromonas species isolated from trouts of Slovakian aquatic sources and detected by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.. Folia Microbiol (Praha) 2018 Nov;63(6):749-755.
              doi: 10.1007/s12223-018-0616-1pubmed: 29808450google scholar: lookup
            11. Lauková A, Styková E, Kubašová I, Gancarčíková S, Plachá I, Mudroňová D, Kandričáková A, Miltko R, Belzecki G, Valocký I, Strompfová V. Enterocin M and its Beneficial Effects in Horses-a Pilot Experiment.. Probiotics Antimicrob Proteins 2018 Sep;10(3):420-426.
              doi: 10.1007/s12602-018-9390-2pubmed: 29417475google scholar: lookup
            12. Singh S, Thavamani P, Megharaj M, Naidu R. Multifarious activities of cellulose degrading bacteria from Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) faeces.. J Anim Sci Technol 2015;57:23.
              doi: 10.1186/s40781-015-0056-2pubmed: 26290743google scholar: lookup
            13. Schoster A, Weese JS, Guardabassi L. Probiotic use in horses - what is the evidence for their clinical efficacy?. J Vet Intern Med 2014 Nov-Dec;28(6):1640-52.
              doi: 10.1111/jvim.12451pubmed: 25231539google scholar: lookup