Q400as

Animal faeces were collected on the 26 th to 28 th days of the experiment to obtain samples in representative quantities for analysis (Batista et al. 2018 , Tavares et al. 2021) . Part of the faecal samples was collected fresh for bacterial count analysis and part was stored in a freezer -20°C for pH and moisture analysis. The pH was determined using a digital potentiometer (Q400AS, Quimis, São Paulo, SP, Brazil) and the moisture was determined following the 934.01 method (AOAC 2016).
For analysis of bacteria count in faeces, the fresh faecal samples were diluted in sterile peptone (1:9, w/v). Then, 20 µL aliquots were inoculated using the micro drop technique (Miles et al. 1938)

For three consecutive days, that is, on days 26, 27 and 28 of treatment, faecal samples were collected and stored at -20°C. For analysis, the samples were diluted in deionised water (1 mg/ml) and faecal pH was measured using a digital potentiometer (Q400AS; Quimis) (34) . A separate portion of faecal sample was dried in an oven (320-SE; Fanem) at 105°C for 24 h to determine faecal moisture (27, 35) .
Another portion of faecal samples collected from caecum was diluted (1:9) in sterile peptone water and inoculated (20 µl), using the microdrop technique (36) , on selective agar for counting Lactobacillus spp. (de Man, Rogosa and Sharpe (MRS); HiMedia), Bifidobacterium spp. (Bifidobacterium agar; HiMedia) and Enterobacteriaceae (MacConkey agar; HiMedia). Agar plates for counting Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. were incubated under anaerobic conditions (Anaerobic System Anaerogen; Oxoid Ltd) and agar plates for counting Enterobacteriaceae were incubated under aerobic conditions, all at 37°C for 24-48 h. At the end of the incubation period, characteristic colonies on the selective media were counted, and the results were expressed as log of colony-forming units per g of faeces (log 10 CFU/g) (37) . Total lipid in faeces and liver was determined by cold extraction (38) .

To assess whether the sensorially accepted concentrations of CLEO or CREO used in combination with the MHT affected the physicochemical parameters of apple and orange juices, samples subjected or not to combined treatments were analyzed for soluble solids content (°Brix), pH and titratable acidity (TA) (CLEO or CREO and MHT) using standard procedures (AOAC, 2016) . °Brix was determined using a digital refractometer (model HI 96801, Hanna Instruments, São Paulo, Brazil) (No. 932.12). pH values were determined using a digital potentiometer (model Q400AS, Quimis, São Paulo, Brazil) (No. 981.12). TA was determined using phenolphthalein as an indicator with 0.1 N NaOH, and the results were expressed in g per 100 mL of citric acid equivalents (No. 942.15) .

A fillet aliquot (10 g) was homogenised in distilled water at 1:2 (w/v) ratio. Then, the pH was determined in triplicate (Quimis, Q400AS, Campinas, Brazil), after 5 min at room temperature, based on the method described by Gómez-Estaca et al. (2010) .