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

Table 5

Microbial composition (log CFU/g), fecal pH, and fecal score of cats fed with diets supplemented with probiotics.

Variable	Treatment			SEM		Contrasts		Time (day)			SEM		Contrasts
	1	2	3			T1 × T3	T2 × T1, T3	0	2	4			D0 × D4	D2 × D0, D4
Lactobacilli	3.65^b	5.07^a	4.87^a	0.097	<0.0001	<0.0001	<0.0001	4.42	4.61	4.54	0.097	0.3650	NS	NS
Coliforms	2.50	3.00	2.98	0.195	0.1268	NS	NS	3.25^a	2.31^b	2.91^ab	0.195	<0.05	NS	<0.05
Fecal pH	5.67^b	5.96^a	5.81^ab	0.059	<0.05	<0.05	<0.05	5.78	5.88	5.82	0.059	0.4674	NS	NS
Fecal score	3.22	3.22	3.11	0.103	0.6815	NS	NS	3.11	3.19	3.25	0.103	0.6344	NS	NS

Means in a row followed by different lowercase letters differ by Tukey's test (). SEM: standard error of the mean; NS: not significant; T1: commercial feed (control); T2: commercial feed and probiotics; T3: commercial feed and freeze-dried probiotics with fructooligosaccharides; D0: day 0; D2: day 2; D4: day 4.