Lactic acid bacteria were counted using a pout plate method; Bacto Lactobacilli MRS agar (Difco Laboratories, Detroit, MI ) was covered with an agar layer and incubated at 30°C for 48 h (Garg et al., 1990). Isolated lactic acid bacteria were identified using the API 50 CHL gallery (bioMCrieux. Marcy I’Etoile, France).