Isolation of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium from dairy calves

For the dairy industry, calf scours is the predominant cause of calf mortality. It is characterized by an onset of diarrhea and lethargy, and is treated with a combination of antibiotics and electrolyte therapy. However, with the rise of multi-drug resistant organisms, there is a strong desire to find antibiotic-alternative strategies for calf scours. Moreover, antibiotic therapy is ineffective against the non-bacterial causative agents of calf scours. Probiotics have shown some promise inhibiting many bacterial enteropathogens. Thereby the goal of this study was to isolate and sequence Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species from the colon and rectum of dairy calves, to determine their probiotic potential for preventing calf scours.