African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 3 (8), pp. 409-411, August 2004                     ISSN 1684–5315 © 2004 Academic Journals

Short Communication

Performance of rats orogastrically dosed with faecal strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus and challenged with Escherichia coli

Oyetayo, V.O.

Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 704, Akure, Nigeria. E-mail: ovofuta@yahoo.com.

Accepted 20 June, 2004

Albino rats (Rattus norvegicus) were orogastrically dosed with faecal strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus and simultaneously infected with Escherichia coli, while the control was challenged with E. coli alone. The treatment was repeated the second day and post ingestion period of 18 days follow. It was observed that rats dosed with L. acidophilus and simultaneously challenged with E. coli treatments have better performances when compared with the control for daily weight gain, total weight gain and feed conversion rate. Faecal materials of rats dosed and challenged do not show sign of diarrhoea which was observed in the E. coli only treated rats.

Key words: Rats, orogastric, Lactobacillus acidophilus.