Korean J Vet Res.  2012 Mar;52(1):33-38.

The effects of Germanium biotite on the adsorptive and inhibition of growth abilities against E. coli and Salmonella spp. in vitro

• Jung M
• Cha SB
• Shin SW
• Lee WJ
• Shin MK
• Yoo A
• Yoo HS

Abstract

Germanium biotite, a natural mineral, has been used as a feed supplement to reinforce innate immune ability. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of germanium biotite on the adsorptive and inhibition of growth abilities against Escherichia (E.) coli and Salmonella spp. in vitro. Two strains of enterotoxigenic E. coli and four strains of two Salmonella serotypes (Salmonella Derby and Salmonella Typhimurium), major bacterial diarrheal pathogens, were used for this experiment. The absorptive ability of germanium biotite against most Salmonella used in present experiment was observed weakly. The germanium biotite, however, showed significant effect of bacterial growth inhibition in most experiment bacteria. These results suggest that the use of the germanium biotite as feed supplement could alleviate diarrhea following inhibition of bacteria growth. It is also presumed that antibiotics usage for farm animals, considered as causes of antibiotic residue in meat and emerging antibiotic resistance, could be reduced through the use of germanium biotite as a feed supplement, in place of antibiotics used for the prevention of diarrhea.

Keyword

adsorptive; enterotoxigenic E. coli; Germanium biotite; growth inhibition; Salmonella spp.

MeSH Terms

Aluminum Silicates
Animals, Domestic
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Bacteria
Diarrhea
Drug Resistance, Microbial
Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli
Escherichia
Ferrous Compounds
Germanium
Hypogonadism
Meat
Mitochondrial Diseases
Ophthalmoplegia
Salmonella
Aluminum Silicates
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Ferrous Compounds
Germanium
Hypogonadism
Mitochondrial Diseases
Ophthalmoplegia