Avaliação da capacidade imunoestimulante e da estabilidade de um probiótico empregado em rações de cães

Abstract

The time of viability of a thermostable probiótica (TR) in extruded and mealy formulations for dog food and their imunoestimulant effects in dogs were evaluated. A commercial, lyophilized, thermostable and encapsulated probiotic, composed of Bacillus cereus (ATCC 9634) 4,0 × 10 8 UFC/g; Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 3131) 4,0 × 10 8 UFC/g, was incorporated in an extruded and in a mealy commercial dog food. In one experiment, quantitative and qualitative survival ratios of bacteria were evaluated at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of storage. In other, 10 dogs (males and females) with weight varying from 10 to 30 kg, without defined breeds, were divided in two groups of five animals each. All animals without serological titre anti-leptospiras were vaccinated against the serovares canicola and icterohaemorrhagiae in the beginning of the experiment and maintained in individual facilities for 60 days. The animals of group I received extruded ration with Probiotic TR and the animals of group II received the same extruded ration without Probiotic TR (controls). The antibodies' titres against serovares canicola and icterohaemorrhagiae were determined before vaccination, and at 15°, 300° and 60° day after, using microscopic serum-agglutination reaction with live antigens. According to the results of total count of spores in extruded and mealy rations, the probiotic TR was stable for a superior period than 12 months. The stimulation of the immune response was verified by elevation of serological titres from group I animals at 15°., 30°. and 60°. day after vaccination while the control dogs showed lower and unstable responses.