Bacteriophage therapy in animal production

Authors: Huff, William; Huff, Geraldine

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/1/2014
Publication Date: 4/1/2014
Citation: Huff, W.E., Huff, G.R. 2014. Bacteriophage therapy in animal production. In: Borysowski J., Miedzybrodzki R., Gorski, A., editors. Phage Therapy: Current Research and Applications. Wroclaw, Poland: Caister Academic Press. 8:201-214.

Interpretive Summary: Concerns over the consequences of bacterial resistance to antibiotics with the use of antibiotics in animal production have led to an increase in research on alternatives to antibiotics. Bacteriophages kill bacteria, are natural, safe, plentiful, self replicating, self limiting, can be used to specifically target pathogens without disruption of commensal bacteria, and have diverse biological properties. These properties make bacteriophages an attractive alternative to antibiotics. The efficacy of bacteriophages to prevent and treat animal diseases has been shown in almost all production animals in both laboratory and commercial field studies. Although the potential of bacteriophage to control significant diseases in animal production has been demonstrated, bacteriophage therapeutics do not represent a replacement of antibiotics. There are some applications in animal production systems where bacteriophage therapeutics have an advantage over the use of antibiotics and some applications where bacteriophage therapeutics are at a disadvantage over the use of antibiotics. The objectives of this chapter are to review the literature documenting the efficacy of bacteriophages to control diseases in animal production, to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of bacteriophage therapy, and to describe possible applications for the use of bacteriophages to control bacterial diseases in commercial poultry, swine, cattle, and aquaculture systems.

Technical Abstract: Concerns over the consequences of bacterial resistance to antibiotics with the use of antibiotics in animal production have led to an increase in research on alternatives to antibiotics. Bacteriophages kill bacteria, are natural, safe, plentiful, self replicating, self limiting, can be used to specifically target pathogens without disruption of commensal bacteria, and have diverse biological properties. These properties make bacteriophages an attractive alternative to antibiotics. The efficacy of bacteriophages to prevent and treat animal diseases has been shown in almost all production animals in both laboratory and commercial field studies. Although the potential of bacteriophage to control significant diseases in animal production has been demonstrated, bacteriophage therapeutics do not represent a replacement of antibiotics. There are some applications in animal production systems where bacteriophage therapeutics have an advantage over the use of antibiotics and some applications where bacteriophage therapeutics are at a disadvantage over the use of antibiotics. The objectives of this chapter are to review the literature documenting the efficacy of bacteriophages to control diseases in animal production, to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of bacteriophage therapy, and to describe possible applications for the use of bacteriophages to control bacterial diseases in commercial poultry, swine, cattle, and aquaculture systems.