Probiotic Therapy: A Promising Strategy for the Control of Canine Hookworm

[摘要] Canis familiarisis a domestic animal which plays an important role as a pet; however, it is very likely to develop diseases characterized by high morbidity and mortality. In this sense, there are some Ancylostomatidae species that can lead to anemia, weight loss, and abdominal pain. Therefore, the treatment with allopathic drugs is essential for eliminating the parasitism. However, the increasing occurrence of resistance to allopathic treatments stimulates the search for new therapeutic inputs, among which the probiotics stand out and are able to positively alter the intestinal microbiota and exert immunomodulatory effect. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the applicability of using species ofLactobacillus(L. acidophilusATCC 4536,L. plantarumATCC 8014, andL. delbrueckiiUFV H2B20) to control canine ancylostomiasis. A probiotic preparation containing 1 × 106CFU of each strain was administered to 10 naturally infected animals, on alternate days for 28 days. It was observed that the treatment with the probiotic preparation led to a significant reduction in EPG of feces (88.83%/P<0.05), as well as an increase in leukocyte and lymphocyte counts, highlighting the potential use ofLactobacillusspecies in the control of canine ancylostomiasis.

[学科分类] 神经科学