Treatment of diarrhea

Abstract

A therapeutic method of treating diarrhea of a patient, such as that caused by rotavirus in which a liquid suspension of one or more strains of Lactobacillus reuteni is administered to the patient. Preferably the L. reuteri is isolated from an animal of the same species as the animal to which the therapy is being given. Preferably at least about 10.sup.7 cells of L. reuteri, and most preferably, at least 10.sup.8 cells, are administrated per day, over a period of one to seven days, depending on the severity of the gastroenteritis. The result is a rapid, dramatic reduction in animal's diarrhea and vomiting, previously not found using other therapies.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to therapeutic treatment of infectious gastroenteritis.

2. Description of the Related Art

Normal microflora is important in the protection of the host against diseases of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract (Fuller, R., Gut 1991;32:439-42; Salminen, S. et al., Dig Dis Sci 1992;10:227-38). During periods of acute diarrhea, the normal gastrointestinal microflora is radically changed. These changes include decreasing numbers of Lactobacilli, Bacteroides and Bifidobacteria (Saiminen S. et al., Dig Dis Sci 1992;10:227-38; Tazume S. et al., Clin Infect Dis 1993;16(2 suppl):77-82S; Mitsuoka T., in Wood B J B, London:Elsevier Applied Science 1992, 1:69-114; Salminen S. et al., Chemotherapy, in press.).

Lactobacillus reuteri is the most commonly occurring Lactobacillus species found in the GI tract of humans and animals (Kandler O. et al., Zbl Bakt Abt Orig 1980; C1:264-9). Like other Lactobacilli, L. reuteri produces acidic metabolic end-products (lactic and acetic acids) which have considerable antimicrobial activity (Axelson L. T. et al., Microb Ecology Health Dis 1989;2: 131-6). Use of L. reuteri cell therapy for other than probiotic purposes, i.e., benefitting the host by improving the indigenous microflora, or antibiotic purposes, is not known.

Several studies have indicated that the administration of probiotic agents may modulate the microbial balance of the host and attenuate acute periods of diarrhea (Pearce J. L. et al., J. Pediatr 1974;84:261-2; Brunser O. et al., Acta Paediator Scand 1989;78:259-64; Boudraa G. et al., J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 1990; 11:509-12). Lactobacillus casei strain GG (LcGG) has been shown to promote clinical recovery from rotavirus gastroenteritis in children and enhance intestinal immune responses (Isolauri E. et al., Pediatrics 1991;88:90-7; Kaila M. et al., Int Pediatr Research Foundation, Inc. 1992;32:141-4; Majamaa H. et al., J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 1995;20:333-8). Other commercially available preparations of lactic acid bacteria, such as, L. casei subsp. rhamnosus (Lactophilus), L. delbruckii subsp. bulgaricus and others are also being used for the treatment of acute diarrhea, even though their efficacy has not been formally demonstrated (Majamaa H. et al., J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 1995;20:333-8). L. reuteri has been shown to be safe on exogenous administration to healthy humans (Wolf B. W. et al., Micro Ecology Health Dis 1995;8:41-50) and has shown therapeutic potential in a rat model of colitis (Fabia R. et al., Scand J Gastroenterol 1993;28:155-62).

L. reuteri is known to produce a broad spectrum antimicrobial, called reuterin (Axelson L. T. et al., Microb Ecology Health Dis 1989;2: 131-6), which may be responsible for inhibition of pathogenic microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention herein is a method for treatment of diarrhea utilizing one or more strains of Lactobacillus reuteri isolated from an animal of the same species as the animal to which the therapy is being given. Preferably at least about 10.sup.7 cells of L. reuteri are administrated over a period of at least one day, depending on the severity of the gastroenteritis. The result is a rapid, dramatic reduction in the animal's diarrhea and vomiting, previously not found using other therapies.

It is an object of this invention to provide a method of treating acute diarrhea that is more effective and faster in stopping dehydration of young patients than earlier methods.

Other aspects, features and objects of the invention will be more fully apparent from the following disclosure and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 graphically shows the frequency of watery stools per 24 hour period in patents receiving L. reuteri or a placebo, presented as absolute number of diarrheal stools (FIG. 1a) and percentage reduction compared to admission level (FIG. 1b).

FIG. 2 shows the frequency of vomiting per 24 hour period in patients receiving L. reuteri or a placebo, presented as absolute number of vomiting episodes (FIG. 2a) and percent reduction from the admission level (FIG. 2b).

FIG. 3 shows the total fecal lactobacillus in the placebo and in L. reuteri--fed children.

FIG. 4 shows the fecal L. reuteri count in the placebo and in L. reuteri--fed children.

FIG. 5 shows the L. reuteri as a percent of the total fecal Lactobacillus population in the placebo and in L. reuteri--fed children.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS THEREOF

The invention herein is a method of providing therapy to a mammal having diarrhea, comprising determining that the mammal has diarrhea or is imminently susceptible to diarrhea; selecting a strain of Lactobacillus reuteri; preparing at least one aliquot of cells of the strain containing about 10.sup.7 -10.sup.10, preferably at least about 10.sup.8, cells for administration to the mammal; and orally administering the at least one aliquot to the mammal as soon as possible after diagnosis of diarrhea. The aliquots may be lyophilized cells, which are suspended in a liquid for administration to the mammal. The liquid may be water, fruit juices, dairy products such as milk or yogurt, and the like, which are not harmful to the mammal. The lyophilized cells may be packaged in a moisture impermeable package, such as a foil package, or in a gelatin capsule as is known. As an alternative to liquid administration to the mammal, the lyophilized cells may be placed in a gelatin capsule for administration to the mammal. Preferably the strain of Lactobacillus reuteri is one that has been isolated from the same type of mammal to which the therapy is being provided. The invention further comprises a therapeutic preparation for reduction of diarrhea symptoms, comprising at least about 10.sup.7 viable cells of a strain of L. reuteri in an aliquot for administration to a mammal.

The present invention provides a method of treating acute diarrhea in humans, comprising administering Lactobacillus reuteri. Preferably, treatments extend over a period of at least one to seven days, preferably begun as soon as possible after diagnosis of diarrhea, with a level of 10.sup.7 -10.sup.10 cells administered per day. The sooner the treatment begins, the sooner the administered L. reuteri cell therapy can eliminate the diarrhea.

In summary of the main study reported herein, to determine the effect of a human Lactobacillus strain (Lactobacillus reuteri strain SD 2112) on recovery from acute diarrhea (75% rotavirus), 40 patients between 6 and 36 months of age were studied. This strain of L. reuteri has been deposited with the American Type Culture Collection as ATCC No. 55730, under the Budapest Treaty on Dec. 7, 1995, and was originally isolated from human breast milk.

After parental consent, the patients were randomized to one of two groups, and received either 10.sup.10 to 10.sup.11 cfu of L. reuteri SD 2112 or a matching placebo daily for the length of hospitalization or up to 5 days. Treatments were administered in 50 to 100 ml of liquid. The mean (SD) duration of watery diarrhea after commencing the therapy in L. reuteri group was 1.7 �1.6! days and in placebo group 2.9 �2.3! days (p=0.07). On the second day of treatment only 26% of patients receiving L. reuteri had watery diarrhea, as compared with 81% of those receiving the placebo (p=0.0005). Cultures of lactobacilli from stool samples demonstrated that administration of L. reuteri accounted for more than 75% of the total lactobacilli found in children fed with this product. It is concluded that L. reuteri is effective as a therapeutic agent in acute diarrhea in children.

Clinical results, substantiated by faecal analysis, indicate that the colonization of L. reuteri in the GI tract resulted in shortening and amelioration of acute diarrhea, mainly of rotavirus etiology. The benefits of L. reuteri therapy were observed within 24 hours after treatment started, after which a reduction of watery diarrhea was seen in most patients. The observation that 74% of the treated patients and only 19% of placebo patients were diarrhea free on the second of therapy is clearly of clinical significance. This result compares favorably with the previous experience of Lactobacillus GG (Isolauri E. et al., Pediatrics 1991;88:90-7; Majamaa H. et al., J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 1995;20:333-8), which in turn was found clinically more effective than a combination Streptococcus thermophilous and L. delbruckii subsp. Bulgaricus (Yalacta) and L. casei subsp. Rhamnosus (Lactophilus) in the treatment of acute diarrhea. The present results may be further improved by earlier administration of L. reuteri. In the main study reported herein, L. reuteri therapy was started at a relatively late stage of diarrhea in patients requiring hospitalization, and even so only after rehydration and securing of parental consent. In many instances the delay was considerable.

The clinical results were corroborated by the bacteriological findings, which indicated a low total number of lactobacilli and virtual absence of L. reuteri in the placebo recipients, and high total lactobacilli and colonization of L. reuteri in the treatment group. The colonization data suggests that the presence of L. reuteri in the GI tract may improve gut ecology by facilitating the growth of other beneficial microorganisms (Fuller R., Gut 1991;32:439-42).

The features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following examples, which are not to be construed as limiting the invention.

EXAMPLES

Patients Studied

The study was carried out between Jan. 29 and Jul. 3, 1995, corresponding to a rotavirus epidemic season. The study protocol had been approved by the Ethical Review Committee of Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland. This was a randomized, double-blind study. Study subjects included 41 well-nourished patients (61% male) between 6 and 36 months of age consecutively admitted to the Department of Paediatrics, Tampere University Hospital, for acute diarrhea of less than 7 days' duration and with more than one watery stool during the previous 24 hours. Children were enrolled in or excluded from the study based on the following inclusion and exclusion criteria. Patients were eligible for study if they were 6 to 36 months of age, admitted for acute diarrhea, had a history of ingesting bovine dairy products (milk, yogurt, infant formula, etc.) as part of their normal diet, and had a parent or legal guardian who signed an informed consent. Patients were excluded from study if they were taking immunosuppressive therapy or suffering from immune deficiency, had a history of allergy to bovine milk, had a serious underlying disease, had taken an investigational product during the preceding month, or had a parent or legal guardian who refused to sign an informed consent.

A randomization schedule was prepared to assign approximately 50% of enrolled patients to each treatment group (L. reuteri and placebo). Randomization numbers were sequentially assigned to patients as they were enrolled in the study.

Pre-Study Data Collection

At the time of admission, the children were weighed, clinically examined, and the severity of dehydration was estimated. Acute weight loss was calculated as the difference between expected weight (according to individual growth charts) and observed weight. Fluid deficit (dehydration percent) was then defined from the clinical signs of dehydration and acute weight loss with a reduction of 0.5 to 1% per day of diarrhea had continued for at least 3 days to reflect loss of weight due to low caloric intake. Serum levels of sodium and potassium as well as the blood acid-base balance were determined from a blood specimen collected on admission.

Treatment

After admission to the hospital, the patients were managed according to a standard treatment practice, first with oral rehydration followed by rapid resumption of full feeding (Isolauri E. et al., J Pediar Gastroenterol Nutr 1985;4 366-74), but without antidiarrheal drugs. Oral rehydration was accomplished in 6 hours with a solution containing Na.sup.+ (60 mmol/l) and glucose (84 mmol/l), given at two times the fluid deficit, with a minimum of 30 ml/kg (Rautanen T. et al., Acta Paediatr 1993;82:52-4).

Patients were equally randomized to one of two groups. Group 1 (n=19) received 10.sup.10 to 10.sup.11 cfu of L. reuteri SD 2112 once a day. Group 2 (n=21) received a matching placebo once a day. The placebo consisted of nonfat dry milk powder. L. reuteti and placebo formulations were prepared, quality controlled, and quality assured by BioGaia Biologics, Inc. (Raleigh, N.C., USA) prior to shipping. Each one-gram (10.sup.10 to 10.sup.11 cfu/g) dose of L. reuteri was packaged in freeze-dried form in sterile sealed plastic vials using nonfat dry milk powder as a carrier. One gram freeze-dried preparations of L. reuteri or the placebo were reconstituted in 50 to 100 ml of a fluid of choice. Hot food was tempered before mixing with the formulations. The feeding of the assigned preparation was started immediately after the informed consent had been obtained. The patients received L. reuteri or placebo for 5 days or for the duration of hospitalization, if shorter.

The patients were weighed daily in the ward. The number and the quality of the stools and vomitus were followed by attending nurses. The stools were recorded as watery, loose or solid. The duration of diarrhea was counted from the last appearance of watery stools. The duration of diarrhea was calculated as decimal days. The patients were discharged according to the clinical judgment of the attending physician. They were asked to contact the investigators if diarrhea recurred in follow-up period of 1 month, at which point they were seen again for the collection of a blood specimen.

Patient Data Collection

Concentrations of serum sodium, potassium, and blood acid-base analysis were determined in the Hospital laboratory using standard procedures.

Rotavirus antigen was demonstrated using a commercial enzyme-immunoassay (Dakopatts AS, Denmark) in the Department of Virology, Medical School, University of Tampere. Blood specimens for rotavirus serology were collected the same day or one day after admission and four weeks later for the determination of rotavirus antibodies. Rotavirns IgA class antibodies were determined using an ELISA method (Isolauri E. et al., Vaccine 1995;13:310-2).

Stools were collected from each subject for analysis of total lactobacilli and L. reuteri. Fecal samples were collected at baseline prior to study product administration, 48 hours after study product administration and at hospital discharge. No less than 2 g of stools were collected for microbial analysis. The samples were homogenized and diluted in 0.1% peptone water for final ratio of 1:5. Five aliquots of 1.6 ml each of well mixed preparations were quick frozen and stored at -70.degree. C. Diluted stool samples were sent to BioGaia Biologics, Inc., Raleigh, N.C. USA, for the determination of the total faecal lactobacilli and L. reuteri.

Faecal activities of the enzymes urease, .beta.-glucuronidase and .beta.-glucosidase were determined in the laboratory of Clinical Nutrition Department of University of Kuopio as previously described (Ling W. H. et al., Ann Nutr Metab 1992;36: 162-6).

Statistical Methods

Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t-test and analysis of variance (Anova) to determine statistical differences between study groups. When comparing repeated measurements, the paired t-test and Anova for repeated measures were applied.

Results

Forty-one patients were initially enrolled in the study. One child in the placebo group was removed from the analysis, because L. reuteri was found in the stool samples. His sister, also included in the trial, was assigned to the L. reuteri group. It was obvious that cross contamination had taken place between these children. Of the remaining 40 children, 19 and 21 patients were assigned to the L. reuteri and placebo treatments, respectively. Thirty (75%) patients had rotavirus antigen in the stool specimens by enzyme-immunoassay. Rotavirus was found in the L. reuteri group from 12 (63%) patients and in the placebo group from 18 (86%) patients.

The pertinent clinical characteristics of the total study group (n=40) are presented in Table 1:

______________________________________Clinical Characteristics of Children Hospitalized forAcute Diarrhea and Enrolled in StudyClinical Evaluation Mean .+-. SD Range______________________________________Age (months) 16.5 8.8 6 to 36Duration of diarrhea before 3.0 1.7 1 to 7treatment (days)Dehydration (%) 3.4 1.4 0 to 7Acute weight loss (g) 371 188 150 to 891Serum 138 3.1 130 to 144Na.sup.+ (mmol/L)BloodpH, actual 7.35 0.06 7.24 to 7.46Base excess (mmol/L) -7.1 4.4 -15 to +2.3______________________________________ The mean (SD) duration of diarrhea until treatment was 3.0 (1.7) days. On admission most patients had mild dehydration, mean 3.4 (1.4) %. The serum sodium was between 130 and 144 mmol/L, with a mean of 138 mmol/l. The rotavirus-positive patients had diarrhea for 2.6 (1.5) days at home as compared to 3.1 (1.9) days in rotavirus-negative patients (difference not significant). The degree of dehydration in rotavirus-positive children was not significantly more severe than in rotavirus-negative patients, but they had more metabolic acidosis (base deficit 7.8 (4.3) mmol/l) than the non-rotavirus patients on admission (mean base deficit 4.8 (3.8) mmol/l), respectively (p 0.07).

The characteristics of patients receiving L. reuteri or placebo are presented in Table 2. On admission, the groups were comparable except that in the L. reuteri group the children were more dehydrated than in the placebo group. Weight gain after rehydration was similar in the two groups, as was correction of the metabolic acidosis.

TABLE 2______________________________________Clinical Characteristics on Admission of PatientsReceiving L. reuteri or Placebo L. reuteri Group Placebo Group n = 19 n = 21Clinical Evaluation Mean .+-. SD Mean .+-. SD P______________________________________Age (months) 16.8 8.1 16.3 9.5 0.86Acute weight loss (g) 415 190 328 181 0.15Dehydration (%) 3.9 1.3 3.0 1.2 0.025Duration of diarrhea before 3.1 1.7 2.8 1.8 0.66treatment (days)BloodpH, actual 7.36 0.06 7.36 0.06 0.96Base excess (mmol/L) -7.6 4.4 -6.6 4.4 0.50Serum 138 3.1 139 3.2 0.56Na.sup.+ (mmol/L)______________________________________

The clinical outcome of the two treatments was similar for weight gain, correction of acidosis and electrolyte levels (Table 3).

TABLE 3______________________________________Clinical Outcome of Patients Receiving L. reuteri or Placebo L. reuteri Group Placebo Group n = 19 n = 21Clinical Evaluation Mean .+-. SD Mean .+-. SD P______________________________________Weight gain at rehydration 188 270 122 145 0.40Weight gain at discharge -4.4 293 -4.7 166 0.99Duration of diarrhea 1.7 1.6 2.9 2.3 0.07in hospital (days)BloodpH, after rehydration 7.38 0.04 7.39 0.03 0.49Base excess (mmol/L) after -2.7 3.3 -3.3 2.8 0.59rehydrationBase excess at discharge -0.6 2.5 -1.6 3.4 0.44SerumNa + (mmol/L)after rehydration 139 2.0 138 2.9 0.56at discharge 139 1.9 139 3.0 0.63______________________________________ The duration of watery diarrhea was shorter in the L. reuteri (p=0.07). Days 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 were calculated as 24 hour periods before or after administration of L. reuteri or placebo. The effect of L. reuteri on persistence of water diarrhea is further presented in Table 4 and FIGS. 1a and 1b. TABLE 4______________________________________Percent of Patients with Watery Diarrhea All Patients L. reuteri Gp. Placebo Gp.Days of n = 40 n = 19 n = 21Therapy.sup.1 Ratio.sup.2 (%) Ratio.sup.2 (%) Ratio.sup.2 (%) p.sup.3______________________________________Day-0 40/40 (100) 19/19 (100) 21/21 (100)Day-1 37/40 (93) 16/19 (84) 21/21 (100) 0.06Day-2 22/40 (55) 5/19 (26) 17/21 (81) 0.0005Day-3 13/40 (33) 2/19 (11) 11/21 (53) 0.004Day-4 9/40 (23) 3/19 (16) 6/21 (24) 0.33Day-5 5/40 (13) 2/19 (11) 3/21 (14) 0.71Day-6 5/40 (13) 2/19 (11) 3/21 (14) 0.71______________________________________ .sup.1 Day 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 correspond to 24 h prior to administration and 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, and 144 h post administration, respectively. .sup.2 With diarrhea/total. .sup.3 Comparison of L. reuteri and Placebo groups.

By the second day of treatment watery diarrhea persisted in only 26% of L. reuteri recipients and as compared with 81% of placebo recipients. On the second day the frequency of watery stools decreased in the L. reuteri group; the means were 1.0 (SD 2.3) in the L. reuteri group and 2.5 (SD 2.3) in the placebo group (p=0.05) (FIG. 1a). On the third day the mean frequency of watery stools was 0.5 (SD 1.9) in the L. reuteri group and 1.7 (SD 2.6) in the placebo group (p =0.12).

Fewer patients receiving L. reuteri, compared with those receiving placebo, had vomiting, starting from the second day of treatment (Table 5).

TABLE 5______________________________________Percent of Patients with Vomiting All Patients L. reuteri Gp. Placebo Gp.Days of n = 40 n = 19 n = 21Therapy.sup.1 Ratio.sup.2 (%) Ratio.sup.2 (%) Ratio.sup.2 (%) P.sup.3______________________________________Day-0 23/40(58) 7/19(37) 16/21(76 0.01Day-1 12/40(30) 6/19(32) 16/21(29) 0.83Day-2 4/40(10) 0/19(0) 4/21(19) 0.04Day-3 6/40(15) 1/19(5) 5/21(24) 0.18Day-4 4/40(10) 0/19(0) 4/21(19) 0.04Day-5 2/40(5) 0.19(0) 2/21(10) 0.16Day-6 2/40(5) 0/19(0) 2/21(10) 0.16______________________________________ .sup.1 Day 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 correspond to 24 h prior to administration and 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, and 144 h post administration, repectively. .sup.2 Vomiting/total. .sup.3 X.sup.2 test (chi square test).

FIGS. 2a and 2b also illustrate the vomiting results. Vomiting practically stopped after the first day of therapy in the L. reuteri group, while in the placebo group it still lingered until the sixth day.

Administration of L. reuteri resulted in good colonization of the gastrointestinal tract (FIGS. 3-5 and Table 6).

TABLE 6______________________________________Faecal total lactobacilli and L. reuteri inpatients treated with L. reuteri or placebo. L. reuteri Group Placebo GroupClinical n = 19 n = 21Evaluation mean SD mean SD P.sup.1______________________________________Total Lactobac.(log CFU/g)Base line stool 2.71 1.57 3.08 1.69 0.41samples48 hr 6.88 1.54 3.32 1.99 0.0001stoolDischarge 5.78 2.31 2.48 1.26 0.0025stoolL. reuteri(log CFU/g)Base line stool 1.86 0.06 1.85 0.00 0.29samples48 hr 6.70 1.48 1.85 0.00 0.001stoolDischarge 5.45 2.57 1.85 0.00 0.008stoolL. reuteri(% Lactobac.)Base line stool 0.02 0.04 0.001 0.00 0.29samples48 hr 78.7 33.9 0.01 0.00 0.0001stoolDischarge 71.5 48.6 0.01 0.00 0.0005stool 1______________________________________ .sup.1 Student's ttest (p < 0.05 statistically significant difference)

As shown, a net increment of 10.sup.7 CFU/g of L. reuteri in feces was observed after 48 hours of L. reuteri administration. Total lactobacilli CFUs also showed an increment of 10.sup.5 CFU/g in feces 48 hours after the initial dose of L. reuteri (Table 6). L. reuteri accounted for more than 75% of total lactobacilli detected in stool samples. Total lactobacilli were low in the stools of placebo treated children, and L. reuteri was not detected in any of those stool samples. Throughout the study total faecal lactobacilli from placebo treated children were in the range of 10.sup.1 to 10.sup.5 CFU/g.

Fecal activities of the bacterial enzymes urease, .beta.-glucuronidase (.beta.-GLN), and .beta.-glucosidase (.beta.-GLS) were lower in the L. reuteri group than in the placebo group (Table 7).

TABLE 7______________________________________Fecal enzyme activities: .beta.-GLN, .beta.-GLS, and ureasein L. reuteri and placebo groups (mmol .times. min.sup.-1 .times. mgprotein.sup.-1)L. reuterigroup Placebo groupn = 12 IQR n = 9 IQR.sup.2median range median range P.sup.1______________________________________.beta.-GLN-0 0.10 0-0.37 0.26 0.037-0.67 0.28.beta.-GLN-2 0.27 0-0.1 0.17 0-1.16 0.54.beta.-GLN-3 0.11 0-0.22 0.29 0.01-1.27 0.33 2 patients 5 patients.beta.-GLS-0 0.47 0-1.29 0.39 0-2.32 0.72.beta.-GLS-2 0.97 0-4.55 1.82 0.44-2.79 0.99.beta.-GLS-3 0.52 0-1.04 0.67 0.03-2.42 0.56 2 patients 5 patientsUrease-0 0 0-2.09 1.23 0-23.66 0.22Urease-2 0.96 0-6.05 4.25 0-7.72 0.64Urease-3 0 0 12.12 1.90-18.62 0.12 2 patients 5 patients______________________________________ .sup.1 non parametric test (MannWhitney U) .sup.2 within a 95% confidence level

Rotavirus IgA class (circulating) antibodies were similar in the two study groups. On admission, the mean rotavirus IgA antibody levels in the L. reuteri group was 22.5 (SD 39.8) enzyme immunounits (EIU) and in the placebo group 7.99 (SD 21.8) EIUs (p=0.163). Four weeks later the mean rotavirus IgA antibody levels were 74.2 (SD 33.9) and 66.3 (SD 31.9) (p=0.4705) in the L. reuteri and in the placebo groups, respectively, indicating that diarrhea symptoms were decreased without need for an apparent increase in IgA levels, unlike results seen with Lactobacillus GG.

Early Administration

Administration of L. reuteri according to the invention is best as soon as there are diarrhea symptoms. Thus, when the treatment according to the invention as discussed above is administered on the first day when diarrhea symptoms are present, there is a substantial reduction in watery diarrhea and vomiting as compared to controls. This difference is most marked in rotavirus gastroenteritis.

Low Dosage Levels

Patients are given varying levels of L. reuteri from 10.sup.7 to 10.sup.10 per day, which treatments provide similar decreases in diarrhea symptoms, with the rapidity of recovery being increased at the higher levels.

Form of Treatment with L. reuteri

In addition to use of a liquid suspension of L. reuteli, either freshly grown or as lyophilized cells resuspended in a chosen liquid, patients are given the same number of L. reuteri cells in a gelatin capsule, once a day. Particularly for mammals which already receive a pastelike nutritional supplement, the L. reuteri therapy may be included in the paste given to the mammal on at least a daily basis when diarrhea symptoms are noticed or when the mammal is likely to be susceptible to diarrhea (e.g., weaning). The same results, reduced diarrhea symptoms, are observed with each of these types of formulation.

Multiple Daily Administration

In cases where the diarrhea symptoms are particularly severe at the beginning of therapy with the invention, administration of multiple aliquots of L. reuteri remedies the problem of the therapy being excreted from the body before having a chance to have its effect. Such instances include severe infant or child diarrhea.

Treatment of Other Mammals

The same diminution of diarrhea symptoms are observed in other mammalian systems with the therapy of the invention. Thus, administration of about 10.sup.7 -10.sup.10 cells per day to piglets prior to and/or at weaning reduces the incidence of rotavirus-induced diarrhea in pigs.

While the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that numerous variations, modifications, and embodiments are possible, and accordingly, all such variations, modifications, and embodiments are to be regarded as being within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A method of treating acute diarrhea that is efficient and rapid in stopping dehydration of young patients, comprising:

a) determining that the patient has diarrhea or is imminently susceptible to diarrhea;

b) selecting a strain of Lactobacillus reuteri;

c) preparing at least one aliquot of cells of the strain containing about 10.sup.7 -10.sup.10 cells for administration to the patient; and

d) orally administering the at least one aliquot to the patient as soon as possible after diagnosis of diarrhea.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein preparing the at least one aliquot comprises lyophilizing the cells, and further comprises a step selected from the group consisting of suspending the lyophilized cells in liquid, enclosing the lyophilized cells in a gelatin capsule, and enclosing the lyophilized cells in a moisture-impermeable container for storage until administered to the patient.

3. A method of providing therapy to a mammal having diarrhea, comprising:

a) determining that the mammal has diarrhea or is imminently susceptible to diarrhea;

b) selecting a strain of Lactobacillus reuteri;

c) preparing at least one aliquot of cells of the strain containing about 10.sup.7 -10.sup.10 cells for administration to the mammal; and

d) orally administering the at least one aliquot to the mammal as soon as possible after diagnosis of diarrhea.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein about at least 10.sup.8 cells are administered to the mammal once per day until the mammal is diarrhea-free.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein preparing said at least one aliquot comprises lyophilizing the cells.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the lyophilized cells are suspended in a liquid prior to administration.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the liquid is selected from the group consisting of juices, dairy products and water.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising enclosing the lyophilized cells in a gelatin capsule for administration to the mammal.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising enclosing the lyophilized cells in a moisture-impermeable container for storage until administered to the mammal.

10. The method of claim 3, wherein the diarrhea is associated with rotavirus infection.

11. The method of claim 3, wherein the mammal is a human.

12. The method of claim 3, wherein the strain was isolated from the same type of mammal as the mammal to which the therapy is being provided.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the strain was isolated from a human.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the strain was isolated from human breast milk.

15. A therapeutic preparation for reduction of diarrhea symptoms, comprising at least about 10.sup.7 viable cells of a strain of Lactobacillus reuteri in an aliquot for administration to a mammal.

16. The therapeutic preparation of claim 15, wherein the cells are lyophilized and packaged in a moisture-impermeable container.

17. The therapeutic preparation of claim 15, wherein the cells are suspended in a liquid.

18. The therapeutic preparation of claim 17, wherein the liquid is selected from the group consisting of water, dairy products, and fruit juices.

19. The therapeutic preparation of claim 15, wherein the cells are lyophilized and placed in a gelatin capsule for administration to the mammal.

20. The therapeutic preparation of claim 15, wherein the strain was isolated from a human, and the preparation is for human use.