Growth Inhibitory Effect of Lactocare on Vibrio cholerae

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Acute microbial diarrheal diseases are the major public health problems in the developing countries. People affected by diarrheal diseases have the lowest financial resources and poorest hygienic facilities. Children under five, primarily in Asian and African countries, are mostly the subjects affected by microbial diseases transmitted through water.The current study aimed at investigating the comparative inhibitory effect of Lactocare (commercial probiotic) on clinical samples and standard strains of Vibrio cholerae. METHODS: A total of 20 clinical samples and a standard strain (ATCC 14035) were provided by Health Reference Laboratory and Biotechnology Institute, respective ly. In order to confirm the samples, biochemical analysis and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were performed on intergenic space. Afterward, agar well diffusion method was performed in order to measure the minimum inhibitory concentration to monitor the antimicrobial activity of Lactocare. RESULTS: Colony count of V. cholerae for the standard strain in 30% and mean for clinical samples in 50% concentration of Lactocare treatment revealed that it would propel to death phase. Since the number of colonies decreased to 100, it was considered that higher concentrations of Lactocare would completely inhibit the growth of V. cholera. CONCLUSION: Probiotics are employed to develop new pharmaceutical preparations and functional foods in order to promote the public health.