Probiotics in pigs may reduce Salmonella

Probiotics, also known as ‘good bacteria’ naturally
occur in the gut of humans and other animals and are understood to boost
immunity and help prevent bad bacteria from causing illness. By adding them to
feed or food, the aim is to boost the population of good bacteria in the gut to
improve the digestive process.

Increase food safety
Now,
however, it seems there may be grounds for probiotics to be fed to pigs to
reduce incidence of Salmonella– an idea that could not only open a new sales
channel for suppliers but also increase the safety of food products and decrease
salmonella cases in humans. Researchers from the
UK’s Veterinary Laboratories Agency in Weybridge, Surrey, reported positive results from
a 3D model of a pig gut. Their findings are presented at the meeting of Society
for General Microbiology in Edinburgh, UK.

Pig gut model
The
experiment involved a special technique based on NASA space technology that
enabled the researchers to grow pieces of pig gut in a 3-dimentional matrix that
replicates the natural environment inside a pig’s gut. “The 3D model
specifically allows us to test the potential benefits of probiotics as viable
alternatives to growth promoters in pigs,” said researcher James Collins. The
researchers said that although they have seen benefits from the probiotics, they
have not yet established exactly how they work to reduce pathogens and
bring about other health benefits. They hope the model will prove instrumental
in shedding light on the mechanism.

Related
folder:
Dossier AllAbout Probiotics

Related
websites:
UK’s
Veterinary Laboratories Agency
Society of General Microbiology

(Source: foodnavigator.com)