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

Abstract

Infections caused by Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serotype Enteritidis (Salmonella Enteritidis) are an important cause of 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 in the poultry industry. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the bacteriophage f3αSE on the incidence of Salmonella Enteritidis in chickens. 15 broiler chickens of 10 days of age were arranged into 5 groups. Groups A and B received 1 ml of a phage suspension orally containing 10⁶ and 10⁷ PFU/dose, respectively. Two hours later, the birds were challenged orally with 1 ml of Salmonella Enteritidis (4 x 10⁶ CFU/dose). The control group (C) only received the phage (10⁷ PFU/dose) and the control group D was infected with Salmonella Enteritidis (4 x 10⁶ CFU/dose); group E remained untreated and constituted the healthy control. Ten days post challenge, the chickens were euthanised by CO₂ 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 10⁷ PFU/dose (7/15 chickens) unlike the group that received a 10⁶ PFU dose (8/15 chickens). The decrease in the incidence of Salmonella Enteritidis in chickens by using the phage f3αSE, indicates that it is possible to consider such phages as useful agents in the control of Salmonella Enteritidis infections.