The present invention provides novel strains of probiotics for use in the gastrointestinal tract of a pet. The probiotics of the present invention are capable of fermenting starch to produce lactic acid and/or hydrogen peroxide anti-pathogenic metabolites. The present invention also provides a novel method for identifying the effectiveness of a pet probiotic in vitro. The method simulates the introduction of a probiotic candidate in the gastrointestinal tract of a pet and measures the anti-pathogenic effectiveness of the probiotic.
1. An isolated starch fermenting probiotic capable of colonizing and surviving in the gastrointestinal tract of a pet, wherein the isolated starch fermenting probiotic is a bacterial strain selected from the group consisting of Lactobacillus acidophilus NCC 2766 , Lactobacillus acidophilus NCC 2775 , Lactobacillus acidophilus NCC 2628 , Lactobacillus johnsonii NCC 2777 , Lactobacillus johnsonii NCC 2767 , Lactobacillus johnsonii NCC 2774, and Lactobacillus salivarius NCC 2586.
2. The starch fermenting probiotic of claim 1 wherein the probiotic is a pet-derived probiotic.
3. The starch fermenting probiotic of claim 1 wherein the probiotic produces an anti-pathogenic metabolite.
4. The starch fermenting probiotic of claim 3 wherein the metabolite lowers the pH of the gastrointestinal tract locally to a range of from about 4.5 to about 5.5.
5. The starch fermenting probiotic of claim 3 wherein the metabolite inhibits the growth of a pathogen present in the gastrointestinal tract, the pathogen selected from the group consisting of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli , Escherichia coli , isolate of canine origin, Salmonella typhimurium, Shigella dysenteriae and combinations thereof.
6. The starch fermenting probiotic of claim 3 wherein the metabolite is selected from the group consisting of lactic acid, acetic acid, citric acid, pyruvic acid, hydrogen peroxide, and combinations thereof.
7. The starch fermenting probiotic of claim 3 wherein the metabolite is lactic acid present in amount of from about 10 mM to about 90 mM.
8. The starch fermenting probiotic of claim 3 wherein the metabolite is hydrogen peroxide present in an amount of from about 0.1 mM to about 4.5 mM.
9. The starch fermenting probiotic of claim 1 wherein the probiotic is capable of surviving in a pH 2.6 environment for at least 10 minutes.
10. The starch fermenting probiotic of claim 1 wherein the probiotic is capable of surviving in a pH 3.4 environment for at least 60 minutes.
11. An isolated probiotic capable of colonizing and surviving in the gastrointestinal tract of a pet, the probiotic producing an anti-pathogenic metabolite, wherein the isolated probiotic is a bacterial strain selected from the group consisting of Lactobacillus acidophilus NCC 2766 , Lactobacillus acidophilus NCC 2775 , Lactobacillus acidophilus NCC 2628 , Lactobacillus johnsonii NCC 2777 , Lactobacillus johnsonii NCC 2767 , Lactobacillus johnsonii NCC 2774, and Lactobacillus salivarius NCC 2586.
12. The probiotic of claim 11 wherein the probiotic is a pet-derived probiotic.
13. The probiotic of claim 11 wherein the probiotic lowers the pH of the gastrointestinal tract locally to a range of from about 4.5 to about 5.5.
14. The probiotic of claim 11 wherein the probiotic inhibits the growth of a pathogen present in the gastrointestinal tract, the pathogen selected from the group consisting of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, Escherichia coli isolate of canine origin, Salmonella typhimurium , Shigella dysenteriae and combinations thereof.
15. The probiotic of claim 11 wherein the metabolite inactivates a pathogen present in the gastrointestinal tract, the pathogen selected from the group consisting of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, Escherichia coli isolate of canine origin, Salmonella typhimurium, Shigella dysenteriae and combinations thereof.
16. The probiotic of claim 11 wherein the metabolite is lactic acid present in amount of from about 10 mM to about 90 mM.
17. A pet food including an isolated starch fermenting live probiotic capable of colonizing and surviving in the gastrointestinal tract of a pet, wherein the isolated starch fermenting probiotic is selected from the group consisting of Lactobacillus acidophilus NCC 2766 , Lactobacillus acidophilus NCC 2775 , Lactobacillus acidophilus NCC 2628, Lactobacillus johnsonii NCC 2777 , Lactobacillus johnsonii NCC 2767 , Lactobacillus johnsonii NCC 2774, and Lactobacillus salivarius NCC 2586.
18. The pet food of claim 17 wherein the probiotic is a pet-derived strain.
19. The pet food of claim 17 wherein the probiotic produces an anti-pathogenic metabolite.