The effect of daily supplementation of nisin (2 mg/L), monensin (5.88 mg/L) and nisin and monensin (2 + 5.88 mg/L) on ovine ruminal ciliates and bacteria was investigated using the artificial rumen RUSITEC. Major groups in RUSITEC were Entodinium spp. and Dasytricha ruminantium. The supplementation of nisin significantly increased the population of both major ciliate groups. The supplementation of monensin significantly decreased the population of both groups. The combined effect of nisin and monensin was similar to the effect of monensin. Monensin had strong antiprotozoic effects in contrast to the stimulatory effects of nisin. D. ruminantium followed by Entodinium spp. appeared more resistant to tested compounds than other rumen ciliates. Tested additives did not significantly influence the presence and growth of amylolytic streptococci and enterococci but nisin showed a tendency to decreasing the concentration of Escherichia coli and lactobacilli.

• MeSH
• Rumen microbiology   parasitology   MeSH
• Bacteria drug effects   MeSH
• Disinfectants administration & dosage   MeSH
• Diet methods   MeSH
• Eukaryota drug effects   MeSH
• Monensin administration & dosage   MeSH
• Nisin administration & dosage   MeSH
• Sheep MeSH
• Models, Theoretical MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Disinfectants MeSH
• Monensin MeSH
• Nisin MeSH