Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of Lactococcus lactis D4 against diarrhea induced by Staphylococcus aureus in a mouse model.
Materials and Methods: A randomized design was adopted using 25 male mice randomly assigned to five groups, which are negative control, positive control (diarrhea + cotrimoxazole), probiotic dose 1 (5 × 10⁸ CFU/mice in 0.5 ml), probiotic dose 2 (administered twice, each administration containing 5 × 10⁸ CFU/mice in 0.5 ml), and disease control (diarrhea without therapy). Diarrhea was induced with S. aureus (5 × 108 CFU/mouse in 0.5 ml), and thereafter, the probiotic was given orally for 7 days. The main parameters examined were body weight, fecal weight, and consistency.
Results: Administration of L. lactis D4 improved diarrheal consequences (p < 0.05). The highest efficacy was observed at probiotic dose 2, containing 5 × 10⁸ CFU/mouse in 0.5 ml twice a day. This improvement made a little body weight loss (31.04 gm) and improved fecal consistency.
Conclusions: Lactococcus lactis D4 showed potential as an ecological probiotic for diarrheal therapy caused by S. aureus. These results supported the sustainable development goals (SDGs) of buffalo-derived functional foods to improve gut health (SDG 3) and informed sustainable strategies for global food security (SDGs 2, 9, and 12).

Key words: buffalo milk; diarrhea; Lactococcus lactis D4; mice; probiotics; SDG 3