Research Article

Impact of lysozyme on ruminal fermentation and microbial population in Rusitec fermenters

Volume: 73 Number: 2 April 1, 2026

Impact of lysozyme on ruminal fermentation and microbial population in Rusitec fermenters

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the in vitro effects of two lysozyme doses (10 and 50 FIP U/mL) on rumen fermentation and microbial populations using the artificial rumen system Rusitec with an 80:20 concentrate-to-forage diet. The ruminal pH, the total number of protozoa, total and individual volatile fatty acid (VFA) production, and methane (CH4) release were not significantly affected by the tested quantities of lysozyme. However, the ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) concentration was significantly increased by supplementation with Lysozyme-50 (P < 0.05). The dry matter digestibility (DMD) was significantly higher in Lysozyme-50 than in Lysozyme-10 (P < 0.05). The total bacterial count decreased linearly in response to the addition of Lysozyme-50 (P < 0.05). Furthermore, in the presence of Lysozyme-50, the abundance of Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens decreased in both linear and quadratic manners (P < 0.05), and the abundance of Fibrobacter succinogenes decreased in a linear manner (P < 0.05). A linear decline tendency in the cell numbers of Ruminococcus albus (P = 0.092) and Megasphaera elsdenii (P = 0.085) was observed with Lysozyme-50 treatment. These findings suggest that while core fermentation parameters such as VFA production and digestibility remained stable, the elevated ammonia nitrogen concentration may reflect reduced nitrogen utilization efficiency, particularly at high doses. Additionally, since lysozyme has limited selectivity for certain rumen bacteria within the Rusitec system, lysozyme may influence rumen microbes differently from conventional antibiotics, warranting further in vitro and in vivo studies across diverse diets and dose ranges.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology

Journal Section

Research Article

Early Pub Date

January 16, 2026

Publication Date

April 1, 2026

Submission Date

June 23, 2025

Acceptance Date

November 26, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 73 Number: 2

APA
Musa, S. A. A., Demirtaş, A., & Öztürk, H. (2026). Impact of lysozyme on ruminal fermentation and microbial population in Rusitec fermenters. Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi, 73(2), 145-153. https://doi.org/10.33988/auvfd.1725307
AMA
1.Musa SAA, Demirtaş A, Öztürk H. Impact of lysozyme on ruminal fermentation and microbial population in Rusitec fermenters. Ankara Univ Vet Fak Derg. 2026;73(2):145-153. doi:10.33988/auvfd.1725307
Chicago
Musa, Saad Ahmed Adam, Ahu Demirtaş, and Hakan Öztürk. 2026. “Impact of Lysozyme on Ruminal Fermentation and Microbial Population in Rusitec Fermenters”. Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi 73 (2): 145-53. https://doi.org/10.33988/auvfd.1725307.
EndNote
Musa SAA, Demirtaş A, Öztürk H (April 1, 2026) Impact of lysozyme on ruminal fermentation and microbial population in Rusitec fermenters. Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi 73 2 145–153.
IEEE
[1]S. A. A. Musa, A. Demirtaş, and H. Öztürk, “Impact of lysozyme on ruminal fermentation and microbial population in Rusitec fermenters”, Ankara Univ Vet Fak Derg, vol. 73, no. 2, pp. 145–153, Apr. 2026, doi: 10.33988/auvfd.1725307.
ISNAD
Musa, Saad Ahmed Adam - Demirtaş, Ahu - Öztürk, Hakan. “Impact of Lysozyme on Ruminal Fermentation and Microbial Population in Rusitec Fermenters”. Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi 73/2 (April 1, 2026): 145-153. https://doi.org/10.33988/auvfd.1725307.
JAMA
1.Musa SAA, Demirtaş A, Öztürk H. Impact of lysozyme on ruminal fermentation and microbial population in Rusitec fermenters. Ankara Univ Vet Fak Derg. 2026;73:145–153.
MLA
Musa, Saad Ahmed Adam, et al. “Impact of Lysozyme on Ruminal Fermentation and Microbial Population in Rusitec Fermenters”. Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi, vol. 73, no. 2, Apr. 2026, pp. 145-53, doi:10.33988/auvfd.1725307.
Vancouver
1.Saad Ahmed Adam Musa, Ahu Demirtaş, Hakan Öztürk. Impact of lysozyme on ruminal fermentation and microbial population in Rusitec fermenters. Ankara Univ Vet Fak Derg. 2026 Apr. 1;73(2):145-53. doi:10.33988/auvfd.1725307