| abstract |
The present invention provides a method for preventing or treating candidiasis, said method comprising the enteral administration to an animal in need of therapy, an effective amount of at least one probiotic selected from Lactobacillus reuteri, Bifidobacterium infantis, Bifidobacterium lactis, nonviable Lactobacillus acidophilus and nonviable Lactobacillus casei. Additional aspects of this invention relate to a method for 1) increasing the immune response in an animal to an antigen; 2) reducing the duration and severity of Candida infections of the skin, mouth, gastrointestinal tract and urogenital tract; and 3) inhibiting Candida adhesion, colonization and dissemination from the gastrointestinal tract of an animal. All methods according to the present invention utilize the administration of at least one, preferably two and most preferably one of the recited probiotics (L. reuteri, B. infantis, B. lactis, nonviable L. acidophilus or nonviable L. casei) and one additional probiotic such as Bifidobacterium breve, Lactobacillus fermentum and the like to an animal in need of treatment. |