Abstract :
Bifidobacteria were enumerated and isolated from the faeces of lambs aged between 25
and 40 days using modified trypticase–phytone–yeast extract (TPY) agar supplemented
with mupirocin and acetic acid. Nineteen strains were characterised and divided into 6
groups according their fermentation characteristics obtained by API 50 CHL and RAPID
ID 32 tests and by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) profiles. One representative
strain of each group was identified by sequencing by 16S rRNA and hsp60 genes
sequencing as B. animalis ssp. animalis, B. choerinum, B. pseudolongum ssp. globosum, B. pseudocatenulatum.
Examination of the DNA fingerprinting showed a genetic diversity between
strains of B. animalis ssp. animalis and B. choerinum. Our result shows that some bifidobacterial
species should not be host-specific or have a broad host spectrum. As bifidobacteria
were determined as numerous bacterial group in the intestine of lambs on a milk diet
(8.32
±
0.71 log CFU/g, mean count
±
S.D., n = 30), there is a reasonable presumption that
bifidobacteria could be an effective probiotics for lambs. Identification techniques used in
this study were found to be suitable for the classification of lamb origin bifidobacteria.
