The effect of Sapindus saponaria on the protozoa genera and ruminal bacteria populations

An in vitro experiment was carried out the effect of Sapindus saponaria as ruminal defaunating plant. A completely randomized (4 x 7) design with a fa ctorial arrangement was used: A) star grass (SG); B) SG + 2.5% Sapindus sap onaria; C) SG + 5% S. saponaria and D) SG + 10% S. saponaria. Feeds were in troduced in 56 glass tubes with rubber caps, under a CO2 atmosphere. Rumen inocula of 2 bulls consuming star grass was used. Samplings were carried ou t before incubation (hour 0) and at 2, 4, 6, 8, 12 and 24 hr, after ferment ation. There were 6 replications in time. Sapindus saponaria produced a red uction in the ruminal protozoa population and the counts of these microbial groups were of 7.24, 5.37, 4.47 and 3.8 x 10(6) cells/ml for A, B. C and D , respectively. This plane mainly affected the Ostracodimium obtusum and Da sytricha ruminantium species. The viable cellulolytic fungi were duplicated with 5 and 10% of S. saponaria. The motile zoospores of these fungi were: 17.72, 21.38. 27.54 and 30.20 a 10(5) cells/ml for the levels of 2.5. 5 and 10%, respectively. There were no differences in the population of total vi able bacteria nor in tile cellulolytic bacteria. It is concluded that S. sa ponaria seems to produce defaunating effects and increases the population o f ruminal cellulolytic fungi.