The other consists of potentially pathogenic micro-organisms. The major role of this microflora is to aid digestion of food stuffs. For efficient digestion and maximum absorption of nutrients it is essential that a balance of micro-organisms be maintained. However, in this day and age, maintaining a normal healthy intestinal tract is difficult. Animals are often subjected to stress conditions.
Studies indicate that lactobacilli are the bacteria most affected by stress.
This results in a reduction of the tract. When this occurs, the beneficial effect of lactobacilli in maintaining a proper pH and microflora is lost. Alteration in the micro flora by such imbalance coincides with onset of vomiting, diarrhea, or other gastroenteritis infections. More specifically, the significance of selected lactobacilli to intestinal well being, the defense of the host, and in the interruptions of certain disease is now well documented. Lactobacilli have been employed in preventing overgrowth by antibiotics resistant species of Candida, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, and E coli during antibiotic therapy, when the normal micro flora is suppressed because of stress functions or by antibiotics.