Lactobacillus Pentosus KCA1 does not alter Haematological Parameters of Sprague-Dawley Albino Rats, but Significantly Affects Red Cell Indices Pre-Exposed to Clinical Isolates of Escherichia Coli.

Abstract

The use of probiotics is yet to be given attention in Nigeria, perhaps due to lack scientific clinical studies on local isolates. In order to introduce the concept, we used the first sequenced Lactobacillus pentosus KCA1 strain isolated in a healthy Nigerian subject. This strain produces biosurfactants, hydrogen peroxide, lactic acid, and bacteriocin that inhibited the growth of some pathogens. This study was designed to investigate the effect of Lactobacillus pentosus KCA1 on haematological parameters of albino rats, before and after pre-exposure to clinical isolate of Escherichia coli. Twenty-four albino rats were divided into four groups (A1, A2, B and C) of six. Group A1 and A2 were fed with a daily dose of 1x10⁸ CFU/ml of Lactobacillus pentosus KCA1 through oro-gastric tube for 10 days. After 10 days, Group A1 and B samples were analyzed. Rats in Group A2 were oro-gastrically fed with 1x10⁸ CFU/ml of Escherichia coli for another 10 days while Group C was fed with E. coli only. After 10 days, samples from all Groups (A2, and C) were analyzed with automatic blood cell analyzer. Analysis of the data showed that most of the haematological parameters between Group A1 and Group B were not significant (P>0.05). However some parameters such as granulocytes, and red cell indices between Group A1 and Group A2 were significant (P<0.05). This study has shown that the ingestion of Lactobacillus pentosus KCA1 does not significantly alter the haematological parameters of healthy rats. However, exposure to the strain before encounter with E. coli exhibited beneficial effects.

Key words: Lactobacillus pentosus KCA1, probiotics, Rats, Escherichia coli, Haematological parameters.