Microencapsulation of Probiotic Strains by Lyophilization Is Efficient in Maintaining the Viability of Microorganisms and Modulation of Fecal Microbiota in Cats

Table 2

Microbial count (log CFU/g) of a commercial probiotic product and lyophilized probiotics before and after in vitro digestion.

Microorganism

Before in vitro digestion

After in vitro digestion

Prob

S1

S2

S3

SEM

Prob

S1

S2

S3

SEM

Lactobacilli

8.25^b

7.71^c

7.52^d

8.74^a

0.039

<0.0001

7.28^a

3.67^b

2.24^c

3.67^b

0.039

<0.0001

Enterococci

8.27^b

8.10^b

7.86^c

8.75^a

0.051

<0.0001

7.22^a

3.78^c

3.73^c

4.65^b

0.051

<0.0001

Yeasts

8.25^a

<1.00^b

<1.00^b

<1.00^b

0.034

<0.0001

7.18^a

<1.00^b

<1.00^b

<1.00^b

0.034

<0.0001

Means in a row followed by different lowercase letters differ by Tukey’s test (). Prob: commercial probiotic product; S1: solutions containing 1% of activated microorganisms + 10% of the cryoprotective solution + 2% of the gum arabic, S2: solutions containing 1% of activated microorganisms + 10% of the cryoprotective solution + 2% FOS + 2% gum Arabic, and S3: solutions containing 1% of activated microorganisms + 10% of the cryoprotective solution + 2% FOS; SEM: standard error of the mean.