Oral administration of Lactobacillus plantarum strain Lq80 to weaning piglets stimulates the growth of indigenous lactobacilli to modify the lactobacillal population.

The composition and the number of fecal or intestinal lactobacilli were determined in weaned piglets before (pre-administration and day 0) and during (days 4, 7, and 14) the administration of Lactobacillus plantarum strain Lq80 (daily dose=10(10) cells). Fecal or intestinal lactobacilli were isolated, and the isolates were grouped by RAPD-PCR and further identified by 16S rDNA partial sequences. During administration, the number of lactobacilli in feces and intestinal contents (log cfu/g) increased from day 0 to day 4 (7.96 vs. 10.07, p<0.05), to day 7 (7.96 vs. 10.18, p<0.05), and to day 14 (7.96 vs. 9.02, p=0.07) in the administered group, although L. plantarum was isolated from the feces of piglets in the administered group at 5.0x10(6 cfu/g. The level of culturable lactobacilli was significantly higher on day 7 in the administered group than in the control group (8.93 vs. 10.18, p)=0.0002). Furthermore, the minor species in the lactobacillal population under the control condition become detectable with the administration of strain Lq80. The oral administration of L. plantarum strain Lq80 was effective to stimulate the development of the lactobacillal population in the intestine of post-weaning piglets.