BACKGROUND: Cheese is a dairy product that is popular in the world. Prebiotics and probiotics are increasingly being used to produce potentially symbiotic foods, particularly through dairy products as vehicle. It is well known that both ingredients may offer benefits to improve host health. OBJECTIVES: In this study prebiotic effect of Olive leaf extract or survival of Lactobacillus casei in UF cheese production during 10 weeks storage in cold condition was researched. METHODS: After provision of aqueous extract of olive leaf, probiotic bacteria and starter culture were prepared for inoculation. This extract was added to UF cheese in the presence of the bacteria then, counting of L.Casei on MRS-bile agar with pour plate was done during 10 weeks of storage and sensory evaluation was performed after 10 weeks of cheese storage at 4 °C. RESULTS: The number of L. Casei was affected significantly by the addition of OLE (P<0.05). The bacterial growth had a significant relationship with the increase in OLE concentrations (P< 0.05). After 10 weeks, in all probiotic cheese, the concentration of L. Casei was at the level of 106 - 108 cfu/g. Also, sensory quality was positively affected by the presence of OLE in cheese samples. Cheese sample produced with the addition of 0.5% of OLE was the most desirable. CONCLUSIONS: The number of Lactobacillus casei was significantly increased during the storage weeks due to the addition of different concentrations of olive leaf extract. The number of probiotic was increased with increasing concentrations of the extract (P<0.05). Also, positive effects on the sensory properties of cheese samples affected by olive leaf extract were observed and the most common cheese sample was 0.5% of this extract.

Due to increasing bacterial antibiotic resistance and the consumers’ tendency to choose organic products, cattle farmers are interested in alternative methods of calf diarrhoea treatment. This is a major challenge for veterinarians. Few methods of non-antibiotic treatment that bring satisfactory results have been reported in the related literature so far. In this article, the authors compare different non-antibiotic methods of diarrhoea prevention and treatment in calves. Among the alternatives discussed are herbs, probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics, lactoferrin, and bacteriophages. It was found that the best results could be achieved through the use of pro-, pre- and synbiotics. However, the authors would like to point out that with the expansion of knowledge about the practical use of broad-scale bacteriophages, they could be the best alternative to antibiotics.

Fatty liver is considered a serious problem in broilers as liver is the main organ involved in metabolism of all absorbed substances. In addition, fatty liver has a direct impact on the growth and performance of the chicken. One of the modern approach in controlling metabolic upset, is the use of probiotics, prebiotics in controlling this problems. Here we tried to summarize the protective role of some probiotics, prebiotics and other natural lipotropic factors and their mode of action against hperlipidemia and fatty liver in broilers.

Objective—To determine immunomodulatory effects of synbiotics administered in ovo on immune-related gene expression in adult chickens. Animals—30 Green-legged Partridgelike chickens. Procedures—On incubation day 12, eggs were injected with 3 synbiotics (Lactococcus lactis subsp lactis IBB SL1 with raffinose family oligosaccharides [RFOs; S1], Lactococcus lactis subsp cremoris IBB SC1 with RFOs [S2], and Lactobacillus acidophilus and Streptococcus faecium with lactose [S3]). Control eggs were injected with RFOs prebiotic or saline (0.9% NaCl) solution. Gene expression of 6 cytokines (interleukin [IL]-4, IL-6, IL-12p40, IL-18, interferon [IFN]-β, and IFN-γ) and 1 chemokine (IL-8) was analyzed in the cecal tonsils and spleen of 6-week-old chickens by means of reverse transcription quantitative PCR assays. Results—Gene expression for IL-4, IL-6, IFN-β, and IL-18 was significantly upregulated in the spleen of chickens in groups S2 and S3. In contrast, IL-12 expression was downregulated in group S2 and IFN-γ expression was downregulated in group S3. Expression of IL-8 did not change in chickens treated with synbiotics in ovo. Gene expression of all cytokines, except for IL-18, was downregulated in cecal tonsils. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—In ovo administration of synbiotics activated the immune system in adult chickens. The intestinal immune system (cecal tonsils) had downregulation of expression for the cytokines evaluated, which indicated an increase in oral tolerance, whereas in the peripheral part of the immune system (spleen), expression of IL-4 and IL-6 was upregulated. Evaluation of immune-related gene expression patterns may be useful when monitoring the effectiveness of synbiotic selection with respect to immunobiotic properties.