Eradication of Salmonella Typhimurium in broiler chicks by combined use of P22 bacteriophage and probiotic

Author(s)

Marietto-Goncalves, Guilherme Augusto ; Lima, Edna Tereza ; Donato, Tais Cremasco ; Rocha, Ticiane Sousa ; Cisneros Alvarez, Luis Emiliano ; Sequeira, Julio Lopes ; Andreatti Filho, Raphael Lucio

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: MICROBIOLOGY RESEARCH; v. 2, n. 1, p. 6-pg., 2011-01-01.

Abstract

It has been reported that the phage therapy is effective in controlling the number of colony-forming unit (CFU) of Salmonella spp. in chicken gut. This paper describes the protective effect of phage and Lactobacilli administration on Salmonella infection in 1-day-old chicks. We administered the bacteriophage P22 in a single dose and a probiotic mixture of four species of bacteriocin-producing Lactobacillus once a day for one week. Samples were analyzed every 48 hours, and intestinal eradication of S. Typhimurium was confirmed after treatments. We observed an increase in the size of duodenal villi and cecal crypts, as well as an increase in body weight in groups that received daily doses of Lactobacilli. This study confirms the efficiency of bacteriophage therapy in controlling salmonellosis in chicks and the beneficial effect of Lactobacilli mixtures in the weight gain of the birds. (AU)