HYDROPHOBIAL AND ANTI-DIARRHEAL EFFECT OF CHITOSAN-OLIGOMER (DARKHORSE~(R)) TO E COLI CAUSING DIARRHEA IN PIGLETS

摘要

Chitosan is the deacetylated polymer to chitin (N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosamine) which is mainly composing of the exoskeleton of crustaceans, insects, fungi, and yeasts (1). Recently ehitosan has been known some effects to wound helaing after surgery, (2), mastitis and colibacillosis of piglets (3). The antibacterial mechanism of ehitosan has not been exactly understanding yet, but it may be related to the strength of hydrophobicity to the target bacteria (4). Hydrophobicity of microorganisms might be associated with agglutination, attachment, phagocytosis and growth in insoluble substances (5-8). Collibacillosis in pig industry plays a role of one of major problems to decrease the productivity, particularly in suckling and post-weaning stage. In this study, we carried out to evaluate the hydrophobicity and anti-diarrhea effect of chitosan-oligomer to pathogenic E. coll.