We evaluated the effects of probiotics (Bioferumin S) and digestive enzyme, α-amylase (Biogiastase 2000), for the digestion and large-bowel fermentation in normal (experiment 1) and antibioticassociated diarrhea (AAD)-induced (experiment 2) weaning piglets. In experiment 1, eight weaning piglets of 50 days age (approximately 12 kg B.W.) were used. They were divided to four groups of two receiving diet supplemented either with α-amylase (E), probiotics (P), their combination (EP) ornone (B). In experiment 2, eight weaning piglets of 30 days age (approximately 7kg B.W.) were divided into four groups of two and treated as in the experiment 1. In experiment 1, a commercially available weaning diet free from antibiotics, probiotics and prebiotics was given to the piglets at 80% level of ad libitum feeding. In experiment 2, a commercially available weaning diet free from antibiotics, probiotics and prebiotics were given to the piglets ad libitum. In experiment 1, daily weight gain, feed digestibility, fecal pH, short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and bacterial population size were measured. After 15 days dispensation of a probiotics and an enzyme, all piglets were slaughtered and whole intestine was dissected. Intestine was further dissected for jejuno-ileum, cecum, colon ascendens and descendens, and rectum. Contents weight, tissue weight, contents moisture, concentration of SCFA and bacterial population for each portion was measured. In experiment 2, AAD was induced by enrofloxacin. Probiotic and α-amylase were dosed to the piglets at the same time. During AAD, the defecate frequency was recorded and all feces were collected. The fecal pH and moisture were measured. All piglets were slaughtered after AAD disappeared and whole intestine was dissected and treated as in experiment 1. α-Amylase supplementation decreased the digesta weight and moisture contents in jejuno-ileum and SCFA concentration in cecum. α-Amylase was therefore suggested to stimulate water and SCFA absorption. Combination of probiotic and α-amylase in the AAD-induced piglets increased the population size of bifidobacteria and the mol proportion of propionate in large intestine. This increase suggested the positive interaction between digestive enzymes and probiotic strains in large intestine. The former promoted the establishment of the latter.

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Survival of lactic acid bacteria in simulated digestive juice in vitro was investigated. The bacteria used in this study were LB (Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus SBT0164), ST (Streptococcus thermophilus SBT1035), and 3 strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus group (LA1: Lactobacillus acidophilus SBT 2062, LA2: L. acidophilus SBT2074, and LG: Lactobacillus gasseri strain Yukijirushi). The L. acidophilus group strains survived well in simulated gastric and small intestinal juice. LG could survive in simulated gastric juice (pH 2.5) for up to 3 hr of incubation, and showed the best survival in the strains. Since they multiplied in the simulated small intestinal juice (MRS broth containing 0.1-1.0% oxgall powder), they were considered to reach the intestine alive and colonise in the gut, and thus their suitability for use as probiotics was noted. LB and ST survived poorly in the simulated gastric juice, therefore, almost of viable cells seemed to be diminished in the stomach after intake. Since they also suvived poorly in the simulated small intestinal juice, even if they survived through the stomach, they also seemed to be diminished in the small intestine.

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