Assessment on In Vitro Probiotic Attributes of Lactobacillus plantarum Isolated From Horse Feces.
Authors: Khusro Ameer, Arasu Mariadhas Valan, Sahibzada Muhammad Umar Khayam, Salem Abdelfattah Z M, Al-Dhabi Naif Abdullah, Rivas-Caceres Raymundo Rene, Seidel Veronique, Choi Ki Choon
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary Researchers isolated and characterised eight bacterial strains from faecal samples of healthy horses, identifying Lactobacillus plantarum strain LF4 as a particularly promising candidate for probiotic application in equine medicine. The strain demonstrated robust inhibitory activity against pathogenic bacteria—most notably achieving 320 AU/mL growth inhibition against *Staphylococcus aureus*—and proved remarkably resilient to gastrointestinal conditions, maintaining viability at pH 2.0 and surviving exposure to ox bile for 36 hours. Beyond survival characteristics, strain LF4 exhibited significant antioxidant properties (DPPH scavenging ranging from 15.3–69.7%), strong cell surface hydrophobicity (60.3%) and auto-aggregation capacity (41.31%), features that collectively enhance bacterial adhesion to the intestinal epithelium and competitive exclusion of pathogens. Critically, the isolate showed susceptibility to conventional antibiotics, indicating it poses no antibiotic resistance risk. For equine practitioners, these findings suggest L. plantarum strain LF4 represents a viable probiotic candidate for managing gastrointestinal dysbiosis and supporting mucosal immunity in horses—particularly valuable given the strain's equine origin and documented stability through simulated passage through the equine digestive tract. Further research translating these in vitro results to controlled in vivo studies would be essential before clinical recommendations, but the strain's multi-faceted antimicrobial and protective mechanisms warrant continued investigation as a potential therapeutic tool.
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Practical Takeaways
- •This in vitro research identifies a horse-derived Lactobacillus strain with promising probiotic properties that may warrant further investigation for equine gut health supplementation.
- •The strain's acid tolerance and bile salt resistance suggest potential functionality in the equine gastrointestinal tract, though in vivo efficacy studies in horses are still needed.
- •Antibiotic susceptibility of this isolate is a safety advantage if considered for probiotic formulation, reducing concerns about antibiotic-resistant pathogens.
Key Findings
- •Lactobacillus plantarum strain LF4 isolated from horse feces demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus with inhibitory activity of 320.16 ± 3.4 AU/mL.
- •Strain LF4 maintained viability in acidic conditions (pH 2.0) with 1.6 ± 0.18 log cfu/mL and showed resistance to oxgall for 36 hours.
- •The isolate exhibited significant hydrophobicity (60.3 ± 1.6%), auto-aggregation (41.31 ± 1.5%), and concentration-dependent antioxidant activity with DPPH scavenging up to 69.7 ± 1.3%.
- •Strain LF4 demonstrated susceptibility to all conventional antibiotics tested, supporting its safety for potential probiotic use in equine applications.