Enterococcus faecium CCM7420, bacteriocin PPB CCM7420 and their effect in the digestive tract of rabbits

Abstract

The effect of <I>Enterococcus faecium</I> CCM7420, bacteriocin-producing strain with probiotic properties and its partially purified bacteriocin PPB CCM7420 on growth performance, microflora, <I>Eimeria</I> sp. oocysts, biochemical blood parameters and glutathione-peroxidase activity in rabbits was determined. An increase in the body weight of rabbits (<I>P</I> < 0.01) was achieved after <I>E. faecium</I> CCM7420 application. A non-significant reduction of faecal <I>E. coli</I> (including haemolytic <I>E. coli</I>), coagulase-positive staphylococci (CPS) and <I>Staphylococcus aureus</I> was found in rabbits administered the <I>E. faecium</I> CCM7420 strain and lower (non-significant) counts of <I>S. aureus</I> and <I>Clostridium</I>-like sp. were detected in PPB CCM7420 group, compared to the control. In the caecum, a significant reduction of CPS was noted in both experimental groups (<I>P</I> < 0.001 and <I>P</I> < 0.05 for EG1 and EG2, respectively). Biochemical blood parameters increased in both experimental groups (<I>P</I> < 0.05 and <I>P</I> < 0.001 for EG2 and EG1, respectively). In the CCM7420 group, the lowest activity of glutathione-peroxidase was measured (<I>P</I> < 0.001). After the application of PPB CCM7420 (<I>P</I> < 0.05; day 21), a reduction of <I>Eimeria </I>sp. oocysts was recorded.