Lactobacillus salivarius CTC2197 prevents Salmonella enteritidis colonization in chickens

A rifampin-resistant Lactobacillus salivarius strain, CTC2197, was assessed as a probiotic in poultry, by studying its ability to prevent Salmonella e nteritidis C-114 colonization in chickens. When the probiotic strain was do sed by oral gavage together with S, enteritidis C-114 directly into the pro ventriculus in 1-day-old Leghorn chickens, the pathogen was completely remo ved from the birds after 21 days. The same results were obtained when the p robiotic strain was also administered through the feed and the drinking wat er apart from direct inoculation into the proventriculus. The inclusion of L, salivarius CTC2197 in the first day chicken feed revealed that a concent ration of 10(5) CFU g(-1) was enough to ensure the colonization of the gast rointestinal tract of the birds after 1 week, However, between 21 and 28 da ys, L, salivarius CTC2197 was undetectable in the gastrointestinal tract of some birds, showing that more than one dose would be necessary to ensure i ts presence till the end of the rearing time. Freeze-drying and freezing wi th glycerol or skim milk as cryoprotective agents, appeared to be suitable methods to preserve the probiotic strain. The inclusion of the L. salivariu s CTC2197 in a commercial feed mixture seemed to be a good way to supply it on the farm, although the strain showed sensitivity to the temperatures us ed during the feed mixture storage and in the chicken incubator rooms. More over, survival had been improved after several reinoculations in chicken fe ed mixture.