Composition And Methods For Inhibiting Pathogenic Growth
The invention includes methods and compositions for treating an animal to inhibit the incidence and growth of E. coli O157:H7 and other pathogenic bacteria. The treatment method comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of Lactobacillus acidophilus or one or a combination of a number of other probiotic bacteria to an animal. An alternative treatment method comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a lactic acid producing bacterium such as Lactobacillus acidophilus in combination with a lactate utilizing bacterium such as Propionibacterium freudenreichii.
1 . A composition comprising a Lactobacillus bacterium and a Propionibacterium bacterium, wherein the ratio in colony forming unit (CFU) between said Lactobacillus bacterium and said Propionibacterium bacterium in said composition is from about 1:1000 (CFU Lactobacillus : CFU Propionibacterium ) to about 1000:1 (CFU Lactobacillus : CFU Propionibacterium ), wherein said Lactobacillus bacterium consists essentially of strain LA51.
2 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein said composition is to be fed to a ruminant.
3 . The composition of claim 2 , wherein said ratio in colony forming unit (CFU) between said Lactobacillus bacterium and said Propionibacterium bacterium is about 1:1 (CFU Lactobacillus : CFU Propionibacterium ), and wherein said Lactobacillus is fed to said ruminant at a dosage of at least 10 9 CFU/day to effectively treat or prevent said pathogenic infection.
4 . The composition of claim 3 , wherein said Propionibacterium bacterium is a strain selected from the group consisting of P9, P42, PF24 and combinations thereof.
5 . The composition of claim 4 , wherein said- Propionibacterium bacterium is strain PF24 and said Propionibacterium bacterium is fed to said ruminant at a dosage of at least 10 9 CFU/day to effectively treat or prevent said pathogenic infection.
6 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein said pathogenic bacterium is selected from the group consisting of Escherichia coli, Salmonella Spp., Salmonella typhimurium, Shigella Spp., and Staphylococcus aureus.
7 . The composition of claim 6 , wherein said pathogenic bacterium is Escherichia coli.
8 . The composition of claim 7 , wherein said Escherichia coli is Escherichia coli O157:H7.
9 . The composition of claim 1 , further comprising animal feed or water.
10 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein said ratio between said Lactobacillus bacterium and said Propionibacterium bacterium is from about 1:10 (CFU Lactobacillus : CFU Propionibacterium ) to about 1:1 (CFU Lactobacillus : CFU Propionibacterium ).
11 . The composition of claim 10 , wherein said ratio between said Lactobacillus bacterium and said Propionibacterium bacterium is about 1:10 (CFU Lactobacillus : CFU Propionibacterium ).
12 . The composition of claim 10 , wherein said ratio between the Lactobacillus bacterium and the Propionibacterium bacterium is about 1:1 (CFU Lactobacillus : CFU Propionibacterium ).
13 . A composition comprising a Lactobacillus bacterium and a Propionibacterium bacterium, wherein said Lactobacillus bacterium consists essentially of strain LA51 and said Propionibacterium bacterium consists essentially of strain PF24.
14 . The composition of claim 13 , wherein said composition is to be fed to a ruminant.
15 . The composition of claim 13 , wherein said Lactobacillus bacterium and said Propionibacterium bacterium are both fed to said ruminant at a respective dosage of at least 10 9 CFU per day to effectively treat or inhibit said pathogenic infection.