Probiotic potential of autochthonous Lactobacillus species from buffalo calves in controlling multidrug resistant Escherichia coli

The aim of this study was to investigate the probiotic potential of autochthonous Lactobacillus species isolated from buffalo calves against multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli. A total of ۲۵۲ rectal swabs were collected from healthy neonatal buffalo calves under ۳۰ days old from six districts of Andhra Pradesh, India in a completely randomized design from August ۲۰۱۹ to August ۲۰۲۱, of which ۱۹۰ Lactobacillus strains were isolated based on cultural, morphological, biochemical and molecular tests. Out of ۱۹۰ isolates, ۵۷ showed high levels of auto-aggregation (> ۸۰.۰۰%) and hydrophobicity (> ۶۰.۰۰%) and ۵۱ of the ۵۷ isolates had a zone of inhibition greater than ۱۵.۰۰ mm in diameter against multidrug-resistant E. coli in an Agar well diffusion assay. Among the ۵۱ isolates, ۳۶ were found to be acid and bile tolerant and showed varying levels of sensitivity to antibiotics such as erythromycin, clindamycin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, and ampicillin. Among the ۳۶ isolates, Limosilactobacillus reuteri ۱۷۸, L. reuteri ۲۰۹, L. fermentum ۱۸۲, L. fermentum ۲۱۱, and Lactiplanti-bacillus plantarum ۳۴ were non-hemolytic, and none of the isolates were able to hydrolyse gelatine. Therefore, these five autochthonous Lactobacillus species may be used in probiotic or synbiotic formulations against multidrug resistant E. coli in buffalo calves.

Keywords:

Autochthonous probiotic , Buffalo Calves , Multidrug resistant E. coli