In vivo evaluation of Lactobacillus plantarum as an alternative to antibiotics uses in piglets

Objetive. To evaluate the in vivo effect of Lactobacillus plantarum in piglets as an alternative to antibiotics. Materials and methods. Fifty piglets were allocated into 5 (n=10) treatment groups (T0: without probiotics; T1:with L. plantarum 1 H1; T2:with L. plantarum 1 H2; T3: with commercial probiotics; T4:without commercial probiotics). The strains were molecularly identified. The inoculate preparation used was 10 g/L white sugar, 15 g/L soy milk, 150 g/L whey, 15 g/L wheat bran, analyzing their feasibility at room temperature and refrigeration. The probiotics inoculate were evaluated in weight gain, survival and presentation of diarrhea. Immunoglobulin A was evaluated by turbidimetry, total cholesterol and BUN by spectrophotometry. The count of neutrophils by blood extension. Results. The Lactobacillus plantarum strains corresponded molecularly. The production of inoculate for the case of L. plantarum 1 H1 and L. plantarum 1 H2 was stored for 21 and 12 days in a refrigerated environment while maintaining high viabilities. T1 and T2 had no episodes of diarrhea and higher final live weight gain and higher concentrations of IgA, and polymorphonuclear neutrophil. Total cholesterol and BUN were lower in T1 and T2. We confirmed the accession of L. plantarum 1 H1 and L. plantarum 1 H2 in the intestine. Conclusions. The use of probiotic L. plantarum 1 showed a positive effect on the health, survival and weight gain of the piglets treated