Probiotic potential of bacteria obtained from microbiota of calves

Abstract

The high incidence of diarrhea in calves increases calf morbidity, which significantly affects animal production and consequently increases the demand for meat. Probiotics can improve the animal's immune response and inhibit pathogens, which would solve the problem. It would be very helpful to obtain information from studies where isolated bacteria from the microbiota of calves have been shown to have probiotic properties and apply that knowledge to reduce the incidence of diarrhea in calves and improve their health. The aim of this review was to obtain information from studies where calf microbiota isolated bacteria were in vitro evaluated for probiotic properties (resistance to bile salts and pH, ability to adhere to mucus, self-aggregation and hydrophobicity, antibiotic susceptibility and pathogens inhibition). There was evidence of bacteria isolation with probiotic potential from the microbiota of calves. In several studies, the incidence of diarrhea was significantly reduced, when calves were treated with these probiotics by improving the immune response and therefore, the health of the animal. Lactic acid bacteria isolated from calf microbiota, mainly Lactobacillus, showed their potential as probiotics improving the immune response of calves, thereby decreasing diarrhea problems, strengthening animal health and consequently, cattle production. The knowledge generated is crucial to consider and implement new practices for preventing gastrointestinal diseases, establishing innovative development of probiotics to increase animal production level and welfare of the calves.