Bacillus subtilis Spores Germinate in the Chicken Gastrointestinal Tract
2008 ◽
Vol 74
(16)
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pp. 5254-5258
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Keyword(s):
Gi Tract
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ABSTRACT A number of poultry probiotics contain bacterial spores. In this study, orally administered spores of Bacillus subtilis germinated in the gastrointestinal (GI) tracts of chicks. Furthermore, 20 h after spores were administered, vegetative cells outnumbered spores throughout the GI tract. This demonstrates that spore-based probiotics may function in this host through metabolically active mechanisms.