Scientific Opinion on the safety and efficacy of Cylactin (Enterococcus faecium) as a feed additive for cats and dogs

Cylactin is the trade name for a preparation of Enterococcus faecium. It is currently authorised for use in chickens for fattening, pigs for fattening, piglets, sows, calves, turkeys for fattening, cats and dogs in various formulation. The product is intended for use with dogs at a minimum dose of 4.5 x 106 and a maximum dose of 2.0 x 109 CFU/kg feed and with cats at a minimum dose of 5.0 x 106 and a maximum dose of 8.0 x 109 CFU/kg feed. The Cylactin strain does not contain marker genes typical of hospital-associated isolates responsible for clinical infections and is susceptible to clinically relevant antibiotics, except for kanamycin, which is considered of no concern. Cylactin is safe for dogs and cats at the recommended dose range. The additive is not a skin/mucosal irritant or a skin sensitiser. As this formulation has a large particle size and the dusting potential is low, the potential for exposure via the respiratory route is considered minimal. Three studies carried out in dogs demonstrated that the additive has the potential to produce a beneficial effect in dogs, when added to feedstuffs at a dose of 2.5 x 109 CFU kg, by increasing the intestinal or serum concentration of IgA. Cylactin showed inconsistent effects on faecal quality in three studies in which cats were fed the additive at the dose of 7 x 109 CFU/kg of feed.