Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2004, 49(6):265-270 | DOI: 10.17221/4309-CJAS

Effects of probiotic bacteria on the performance of arctic foxes, pathomorphology and microflora of their alimentary tracts

A. Gugolek, M. O Lorek, Z. Rotkiewicz, T. Rotkiewicz
1 , M. O. L 1, Z. R 2, T. R 3 1Department of Fur-bearing Animal Breeding, 2Department of Microbiology and Clinical Immunology, 3Department of Pathological Anatomy, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland

Studies on the use of Enterococcus faecium and Lactobacillus acidophilus cultures in arctic fox nutrition were performed on 80 foxes, in the period from weaning to the end of growth and fur development. Diets for the experimental animals were supplemented with 1 g of a probiotic preparation that provided the supply of each bacterial culture in the amount of 1 × 109 CFU (colony forming units) per day. The performance of the animals was estimated on the basis of their body weights, conformation and pelt quality. Histopathological examinations of the liver, kidneys and selected segments of the alimentary tract were also conducted. The results show that a mixture of Enterococcus faecium and Lactobacillus acidophilus cultures had beneficial effects on the health of artic foxes. The probiotic changed the composition of the alimentary tract microflora, which had a positive influence on the morphology of the alimentary tract mucosa and allowed to reduce morphological damage to the liver and kidneys. The good condition of foxes resulted in higher body weight gains and better parameters of conformation and pelt quality.

Keywords: arctic fox; nutrition; probiotic; growth; pelt; alimentary tract; microflora

Published: June 30, 2004  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Gugolek A, Lorek MO, Rotkiewicz Z, Rotkiewicz T. Effects of probiotic bacteria on the performance of arctic foxes, pathomorphology and microflora of their alimentary tracts. Czech J. Anim. Sci. 2004;49(6):265-270. doi: 10.17221/4309-CJAS.
Share...
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Open full article

    References

    1. Balakirev N.A., Drozdova E., Leonko N., Bevz N., Efimova O., Kuzikov A., Abramov N., Bondarenko V. (1994): Application of bifidobacterin in fur animal husbandry. Zootekhnija, 7, 17-19.
    2. Dahle H., Holstad G. (1988): Forsok med tilse ing av melkesyrekultur pa torrfor til rev. Norsk Veterinaertidsskri, 100, 715-717.
    3. Jorgensen M. (1988a): Probiotic - a surve, an alternative to antibiotics in the feed of fur-bearing animals. Scientifur, 12, 247-249.
    4. Jorgensen M. (1988b): Probioticum (Streptococcus faecium, Cernelle 69-SF68) for improvement of health and wellbeing with mink and fox. Scientifur, 12, 250-256.
    5. Jorgensen M., Pedersen K. (1992): Spredning of Enterococcus faecium Cernelle 68 fra minktaever til diende hvalpe. Dansk Veterinaertidsskri, 75, 9-11.
    6. Lorek M.O., Gugolek A., Szarek J., Przezdziecka D. (2000): Effect of new generation feed supplement on some performance indices and health state in mink. In: Proc. VII International Scientific Congress in Fur Animal Production, Scientifur, 24, 86-88.
    7. Molitor D. (1996): In vitro- und in vivo- Effekte eines Probiotikums (Enterococcus faecium) als Fu erzusatz bei Hunden. Tierztliche Hochschule, Hanover, Germany, 133.
    8. Pedersen K., Jorgensen M. (1992): Lactic acid bacteria for mink. Colonization and persistence of Enterococcus faecium Cernelle 68 in digestive tract of mink. Acta Vet. Scand., 33, 95-103. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    9. Polish Standard. Skóry lisów polarnych. 1984. PN-84/ P-22021.
    10. Simon O., Jadamus A., Vahjen W. (2001): Probiotic feed additives - effectiveness and expected modes of action. J. Anim. Feed Sci., 10 Suppl. 1, 51-67. Go to original source...
    11. Standards of Conformation Evaluation in Arctic Foxes (1998): Centralna Stacja Hodowli Zwierząt. Warszawa.
    12. Tauson A.H. (1983): Mjolksyrajasade bakterier i foder till mink under draktighets och digivningsperioden. VaraPalsdjur., 11, 316-318.
    13. Tauson A.H. (1984): Effects of lactic acid bacteria as feed additive on reproductive performance and early kit growth rate in mink and blue foxes. Acta Agric. Scand., 31, 227-236. Go to original source...
    14. Williams C., Elnif J., Buddington R. (1998): The gastrointestinal bacteria of mink (Mustela vison L.): influence of age and diet. Acta Vet. Scand., 39, 473-482. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    15. Zentek J., Molitor D., Kamphues J. (1998): Prufung intrstinaler Effekte eines Probiotikums (Enterococcus faecium) bei Hunden. Kleintierpraxis, 43, 187-197.

    This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY NC 4.0), which permits non-comercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original publication is properly cited. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.


    Return to the content