Our subject T, who appeared to be a suitable candidate for an assessment of the effects of oligosaccharides, was administrated fructooligosaccharide (FOS) or lactulose and his symptoms, fecal microflora, and composition of rectal gas were investigated. The subject experienced no symptoms in the gut at low dose of FOS. At high dose of FOS, tympanites was observed in the ascending and the transverse colon. By lactulose administration, there were no tympanites, but frequent defecation, rectal gas and loose stool were noted. The number and occupation percentage of fecal bifidobacteria increased by higher doses of FOS (10^9.1 to 10^10.8, 2.9 to 66.2%) and lactulose (10^8.7 to 10^10.5, 0.5 to 25.2%). The composition of rectal gas varied even among samples collected in succession and no clear relationship was observed between the composition of gas and dose. Based on these results, the course of tympanites is discussed.

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Lactoferrin in feces of healthy individuals was measured by means of latex agglutination method. Lactoferrin titers in 16 out of 31 fecal samples were under 1: 10, and that in 15 were 1: 10 or 1: 20. In the feces with high lactoferrin titer, large numbers of Bifidobacterium were present (more than 10¹⁰/g feces); conversely, in the feces with low lactoferrin titer, the numbers of Bifidobacterium were significantly lower (10⁸-10⁹/g feces) (p<0.05). In the feces with high lactoferrin titer, small numbers of Candida were present, but among the samples with low lactoferrin titer, some had large numbers and some had small numbers of Candida. It was demonstrated in vitro that lactoferrin accelerated the growth of Bifidobacterium and slightly suppressed the growth of Candida.

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A total of 19 species of Bifidobacterium were screened for the ability to grow with fructooligosaccharides (FOS) as the carbohydrate source. Several strains of animal origin (B. thermophilum, B. minimum, and B. cuniculi) grew significantly better than strains from human source on inulin (degree of polymerization (DP) ≤ 15). These strains grew equally well on inulin from several sources, but were unable to metabolize levan, a polymer of β (2-6)-D-fructose. Best growth was obtained on FOS preparations containing a significant proportion of low-molecular-weight (DP≥5) carbohydrates. Strains which grew best on inulin required the presence of this FOS for maximal induction of the exo-inulinase. These results suggest that animal strains of bifidobacteria may be used in conjunction with short-chain FOS as a supplement to animal feed.

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Total 286 strains of lactobacilli were isolated from different segments of the alimentary tract of healthy horses. They were identified by the carbohydrate fermentation patterns and physiological properties as L. salivarius (10 biovars), L. acidophilus (8 biovars), L. reuteri (8 biovars) and Lactobacillus spp.(2 biovars). L. acidophilus and L. reuteri were found in all parts of the alimentary tract, while L. salivarus were not isolated from the stomach. The unidentified Lactobacillus spp. were isolated only from feces.

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