Evaluation of the efficiency of using Salmonella Kentucky and Escherichia coli O119 bacteriophages in the treatment and prevention of salmonellosis and colibacillosis in broiler chickens

Phage therapy is considered an alternative modality in the treatment of different bacterial diseases. However, their therapeutic and preventive roles against infections caused bySalmonellaKentucky andEscherichia coliO119 were of little attention. In this study, two phages were isolated, characterized and assessed for their potential therapeutic and preventive roles againstS. Kentucky andE. coliO119 infections in broilers. Commercial 1-day-old arboacres broiler chicks were assigned to seven groups: Group & x4c0; was as a negative control, groups (n and SIC) were assigned as positive controls by the challenge ofS. Kentuckyand E. coliO119, respectively. The remaining four groups (IV, V, VI and VII) were administrated with five repeated phage doses to determine the effect of multiple doses. Phages were administrated in groups (IV and VI) after challenging withS. Kentucky andE. coliO119, respectively to assess their therapeutic role; moreover, their preventive role was evaluated through administration in groups (V and VII) before challenging withS. Kentucky andE. coliO119, respectively. Sampling was done from different organs at three time points and revealed that phage-treated groups had lower colony forming units ofS. Kentucky andE. coli. Our results suggest that bacteriophages are efficient in the treatment and prevention of salmonellosis and colibacillosis in broiler farms.