Prevention of Salmonella enterica subspecie enterica serotype Enteritidis (Salmonella Enteritidis) infection in chickens using a bacteriophage

Infections C caused by Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serotype Enteritidis (Salmonella Enteritidis) are an important cause foodborne diseases, epidemiologically associated with the consumption of poultry products. Since antibiotic treatments cause the appearance of multiresistant strains, phages can be used as an alternative method for controlling S. Enteritidis ill the poultry industry. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the bacteriophage f3 alpha SE oil the incidence of Salmonella Enteritidis in chickens. 15 broiler chickens of 10 clays of age were arranged into 5 groups. Groups A and B received 1 ml of a phage suspension orally containing 10(6) and 10(7) PFU/dose, respectively. Two hours later, the birds were challenged orally with 1 ml of Salmonella Enteritidis (4 x 10(6) CFU/dose). The control group (C) only received the phage (10(7) PFU/dose) and the control group D was infected With Salmonella Enteritidis (4 x 10(6) CFU/dose) group E remained Untreated and constituted the healthy control. Tell clays post challenge. the chickens were euthanised by CO, inhalation and samples of intestine and organs were obtained for the re-isolation of the challenge strain and phage. The incidence of infection by Salmonella Enteritidis decreased (P = 0.028) in the group that received 10(7) PFU/dose (7/15 chickens) unlike the group) that received a 10(6) PFU close (8/15 chickens). The decrease in the incidence of Salmonella Enteritidis in chickens by using the phage f3 alpha SE, indicates that it is possible to consider such phages as useful agents in the control of Salmonella Enteritidis infections