Abstract

The aim of the study was to isolate vaginal latobacilli from heifers and cows with healthy reproductive tract and to test their adherence to vaginal mucus in different phases of the estrous cycle. Moreover, the strains were tested to produce hydrogen peroxide and organic acids and in vitro antagonistic activity against pathogenic indicator strains. Five strains were selected (from 244 samples of 122 heifers and cows). They were identified to the species level; the strains 5/K, 24S8 were allotted to the species Lactobacillus büchneri and the strains 29S8, 9/K, 5/Kb to the species Lactobacillus mucosae. Except nonadherent strain L. büchneri 24S8, the strains adhered to vaginal mucus in the follicular phase of the estrous cycle. All strains produced hydrogen peroxide in detectable amounts, lactic acid as the main organic acid and showed inhibitory activity against indicator bacteria. They were negative or with slight production (5 nmol) of enzymes connected with some disorders (β-glucuronidase, α-chymotrypsin, trypsin and N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase). On the other hand, reaction for β-galactosidase as the enzyme helping e.g. in lactose digestion was positive (30 nmol). L. mucosae 5/Kb was deponed to the Czech Culture Collection of Microorganisms (CCM, Brno, Czech Republic) as CCM 7697. Preliminary results suggest that selected lactobacilli could be used in a probiotic preparation to prevent and treat diseases of reproductive tract.

Key words: Lactobacillus spp.,probiotic, reproductive tract, cow.