cjs-200908-0005 ArticleInAPeriodical 2009 Czech Journal of Animal Science 54 8 376-386 Pogány SimonováM. LaukováA. ChrastinováĽ. StrompfováV. FaixŠ. VasilkováZ. OndruškaĽ. JurčíkR. RafayJ. Enterococcus faecium CCM7420, bacteriocin PPB CCM7420 and their effect in the digestive tract of rabbits The effect of Enterococcus faecium CCM7420, bacteriocin-producing strain with probiotic properties and its partially purified bacteriocin PPB CCM7420 on growth performance, microflora, Eimeria sp. oocysts, biochemical blood parameters and glutathione-peroxidase activity in rabbits was determined. An increase in the body weight of rabbits (P < 0.01) was achieved after E. faecium CCM7420 application. A non-significant reduction of faecal E. coli (including haemolytic E. coli), coagulase-positive staphylococci (CPS) and Staphylococcus aureus was found in rabbits administered the E. faecium CCM7420 strain and lower (non-significant) counts of S. aureus and Clostridium-like sp. were detected in PPB CCM7420 group, compared to the control. In the caecum, a significant reduction of CPS was noted in both experimental groups (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05 for EG1 and EG2, respectively). Biochemical blood parameters increased in both experimental groups (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001 for EG2 and EG1, respectively). In the CCM7420 group, the lowest activity of glutathione-peroxidase was measured (P < 0.001). After the application of PPB CCM7420 (P < 0.05; day 21), a reduction of Eimeria sp. oocysts was recorded.