In vitro screening of antibacterial efficacy of stem waste of oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) against different Escherichia coli strains and in vivo effects against E. coli-induced infection in Japanese quails

Abstract

This study investigates the antibacterial efficacy of stem waste from the oyster mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus (PO) through both in vitro and in vivo models. The in vitro antibacterial activity was tested against three strains of E. coli: E. coli O78, E. coli O121, and E. coli O157. The in vivo antibacterial activity was evaluated using E. coli O78 in quails, guided by the in vitro findings. The methanolic extract of oyster mushroom stem waste exhibited antibacterial activity, creating inhibition zones of 13.36 mm, 9.75 mm, and 9.46 mm for E. coli O78, E. coli O121, and E. coli O157, respectively. These were compared with ciprofloxacin, which produced inhibition zones of 22.42 mm, 20.51 mm, and 19.60 mm, respectively. For the in vivo study, 480 one-day-old quail chicks were divided into four groups: negative control, positive control, standard (treated with ciprofloxacin), and PO group (3% Pleurotus ostreatus supplementation). Birds in all groups, except the negative control, were infected with E. coli O78. Results indicated that the PO group, fed with 3% oyster mushroom stem waste, showed improved performance, gut morphometry, and a reduction in cecal E. coli O78 counts, while increasing beneficial Lactobacillus counts. The study also assessed feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, mortality percentage, and dressing percentage, all of which improved with PO supplementation. The findings demonstrate that oyster mushroom stem waste possesses significant antibacterial properties against E. coli both in vitro and in vivo, suggesting its potential as a natural alternative to synthetic prebiotics in poultry feed.

Keywords

• Mushroom
• Pleurotus ostreatus
• Escherichia coli
• antibacterial
• growth performance
• Food Additives & Ingredients