Evaluation of the Effects of Pediococcus acidilactici Isolated from Wara, a Nigerian Milk Product, in the Prevention of Diarrhea and the Modulation of Intestinal Microflora in Wistar Rats

Animals have been used in the evaluation of probiotic potentials of lactic acid bacteria for the development of functional food as only in-vitro tests may not be enough to ascertain the probiotic ability of an organism and its safety in a living host. The action of a probiotic Pediococcus acidilactici strain isolated from Wara, a Nigerian milk product, in the treatment of Diarrhea in wistar rats infected orally with Diarrhoeagenic Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli as well as the survival and microflora modulation of the probiotic strain in the gastrointestinal tract were evaluated. Five groups of seven rats each were infected and treated as the case may be with the pathogen and probiotic respectively. Each group received specific treatments for 30 days, during which the animals were closely monitored and the faecal samples were analyzed for the trend of E. coli and LAB counts. Also, specific organs of the Gastrointestinal tract (GIT) were examined for any histomorphological disparity after 30 days of daily treatment. Clinical signs were observed in the pathogen challenged animals while the probiotic treated groups displayed less pronounced Diarrheal symptoms and a negligible E. coli count. The strain adhered to the mucosal wall and did not initiate any adverse effect on the organs of the GIT after treatment. It was concluded that Pediococcus acidilactici isolated from Wara, a Nigerian milk product, was able to improve gut health through pathogen exclusion and had no adverse effect on the general health of the host.