Enterococcus mundtii ST4SA and Lactobacillus plantarum 423 alleviated symptoms of Salmonella infection, as determined in Wistar rats challenged with Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium.

Wistar rats were administered daily with Lactobacillus plantarum 423 and Enterococcus mundtii ST4SA through intragastric gavage (1 x 10(8) cfu of each strain and a combination of the two strains). Sterile saline was used as placebo. After 7 days, the animals were challenged by infection with 2 x 10(8) CFU Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. After 1 day of treatment with L. plantarum 423 and E. mundtii ST4SA, the feed and water intake, and body weight of the rats increased. The faecal moisture content and beta-glucuronidase activity remained more-or-less constant after 2 days of treatment with E. mundtii ST4SA, L. plantarum 423 and a combination of the two strains. Reduced levels of endotoxin were recorded in blood samples taken from rats that received L. plantarum 423 and E. mundtii ST4SA. Although both strains alleviated symptoms of S. enterica serovar Typhimurium infection, L. plantarum 423 administered as a single culture proved more effective than E. mundtii ST4SA. Less promising results were recorded when L. plantarum 423 was administered in combination with E. mundtii ST4SA. This suggests that L. plantarum 423 is more effective than E. mundtii and should be the preferred probiotic to alleviate symptoms of S. enterica serovar Typhimurium infection.