The cultivable microbiota of skin and cloaca of captive Lithobates catesbeianus includes microorganisms
generally accepted as beneficial and potentially pathogenic bacteria. In order to select a group of potentially
probiotic bacteria, 136 isolates were evaluated for their surface properties and production of antagonistic
metabolites. Then, 11 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains were selected and identified as Lactobacillus
plantarum, Lb. brevis, Pediococcus pentosaceus, Lactococcus lactis, L. garvieae and Enterococcus gallinarum.
Studies of compatibility indicate that all the strains could be included in a multi-strain probiotic, with
the exception of Ent. gallinarum CRL 1826 which inhibited LAB species through a bacteriocin-like metabolite.
These results contribute to the design of a probiotic product to improve the sanitary status of bullfrogs
in intensive culture systems, to avoid the use of antibiotics and thus to reduce production costs. It
could also be an alternative to prevent infectious diseases during the ex situ breeding of amphibian species
under threat of extinction.