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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fayetteville, Arkansas » Poultry Production and Product Safety Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #288913
Title: Method of administration affects the ability of bacteriophage to prevent colibacillosis in 1-day-old broiler chickens

Author
item Huff, William
item Huff, Geraldine
item Rath, Narayan
item Donoghue, Ann - Annie

Submitted to: Poultry Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/13/2012
Publication Date: 4/1/2013
Citation: Huff, W.E., Huff, G.R., Rath, N.C., Donoghue, A.M. 2013. Method of administration affects the ability of bacteriophage to prevent colibacillosis in 1-day-old broiler chickens. Poultry Science. 92(4):930-934.

Interpretive Summary: Bacteriophages are viruses that kill bacteria. They are plentiful in nature with no known activity to human or animal cells, making them an attractive alternative to antibiotics. The objective of this research was to determine if a coarse or a fine spray of bacteriophage would prevent a disease in poultry known as colibacillosis induced by an intra-tracheal (IT) challenge with Escherichia coli. Two studies were conducted with 6 treatments, untreated control, birds treated with a spray administration of bacteriophage and not challenged, birds administered bacteriophage IT and not challenged, birds not treated and challenged IT with E.coli, birds sprayed with bacteriophage and IT challenged with E. coli, and birds administered bacteriophage IT and challenged IT with E. coli. There were 3 replicate pens of 10 birds per pen, per treatment, and all treatments were administered at one d of age. Study 1 was concluded when the birds were 19 d of age and Study 2 was concluded when the birds were 21 d of age. In both studies neither a coarse nor a fine spray protected the birds from an IT E. coli challenge, however, when bacteriophage were administered IT there was complete protection.

Technical Abstract: Bacteriophages are viruses that kill bacteria. They are plentiful in nature with no known activity to human or animal cells, making them an attractive alternative to antibiotics. The objective of this research was to determine if a coarse or a fine spray of bacteriophage would prevent colibacillosis induced by an intra-tracheal (IT) challenge with Escherichia coli. Two studies were conducted with 6 treatments, untreated control, birds treated with a spray administration of bacteriophage and not challenged, birds administered bacteriophage IT and not challenged , birds not treated and challenged IT with E.coli, birds sprayed with bacteriophage and IT challenged with E. coli, and birds administered bacteriophage IT and challenged IT with E. coli. There were 3 replicate pens of 10 birds per pen, per treatment, and all treatments were administered at one d of age. Study 1 was concluded when the birds were 19 d of age and Study 2 was concluded when the birds were 21 d of age. In both studies neither a coarse nor a fine spray protected the birds from an IT E. coli challenge, however, when bacteriophage were administered IT there was complete protection.