Fermentation Products of β-Mannanase Producing Bacteria Inhibit Selected Poultry Borne Pathogens

Aim: The study evaluated the inhibitory effect of fermentation products of β-mannanase-producing bacteria on selected poultry borne pathogens.
Study Design: The first experiment, bacterial isolates previously confirmed positive for mannanase by plate assay technique were further screened for mannanase production in submerged state fermentation. In the second experiment, inhibitory effect of fermentation products of mannanase-producing bacteria on selected poultry pathogens was evaluated.
Place and Duration of Study: Microbiology Research Laboratory, Federal University of Technology, Akure Nigeria between September 2011 and March 2012.
Methodology: Bacterial isolates from agricultural wastes previously confirmed positive for mannanase activity by plate assay were further screened for their potential performance under submerged state fermentation and enzyme activity determined by dinitrosalicylic acid method. The inhibitory action of β-mannanase-producing bacteria was determined by supplementation of supernatant and plating method.
Results: Isolate 1A showed highest mannanase activity (13.430 U/ml), displayed broad inhibition to selected poultry borne pathogens; Klebsiella oxytoca, Shigella alkalescens, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhii, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus sp. Apart from isolate 1A, fermentation products of other isolates generated from the mannolytic action of β-mannanase on mannan containing substrate displayed different percentage inhibition on selected poultry borne pathogens.
Conclusion: The results suggested that fermentation products from β-mannanase-producing bacteria might possess antibacterial properties which could be applied in poultry farms.