Weaned piglets were administered with the BN strain of
Bacillus natto for about 10 days. During this period 10
3-10
4 organisms of this strain per gram of feces were detected constantly. They disappeared from the feces 4 and 6 days after the end of administration. The Lactobacillus count increased a little and the Escherichia coli count hardly changed in the feces after the administration of this strain.
Clinically, diarrhea and soft feces disappeared from the affected piglets after the administration of this strain. Autopsy revealed that
B. natto was present in the contents of the upper part of the intestinal canal, but not at all in those of the lower part. Lactobacillus and
E. coli were prevalent in the lower part and a very few or absent in the upper part.
These results suggest that the BN strain of
B. natto may hardly multiply in the intestine of the piglet, and that some of the administered organisms of this strain may remain in some form or other in the intestine.
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