Effect of bacteriophage in enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) infected pigs

J Vet Med Sci. 2012 Aug;74(8):1037-9. doi: 10.1292/jvms.11-0556. Epub 2012 Mar 21.

Abstract

We evaluated effect of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) specific lytic phage CJ12 in ETEC infected pigs. Phage was mixed with feed at a ratio of 1:1,000 (0.1%). One week after initially providing phage mixed feed, pigs were challenged orally with 10(11) CFU of ETEC and body weight, diarrhea score, bacterial CFU and phage PFU in the feces were measured. Pigs of phage treated groups C (10(6) PFU/g) and D (10(8) PFU/g) showed more resistance to diarrhea due to ETEC infection compared to positive control group B on the third day after the initial challenge. Moreover, during the quantitation of ETEC in feces, both groups C and D showed approximately 63.92 and 60.73% reduced ETEC compared to positive control group B. Phages were successfully isolated from feces in both groups C and D during the experiment without any adverse effects, suggesting the possibility of using CJ12 as a feed additive.

Publication types

  • Controlled Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animal Feed
  • Animals
  • Bacteriophages / physiology*
  • Diarrhea / microbiology
  • Diarrhea / veterinary
  • Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli / virology*
  • Escherichia coli Infections / microbiology
  • Escherichia coli Infections / prevention & control
  • Escherichia coli Infections / veterinary*
  • Feces / microbiology
  • Swine
  • Swine Diseases / microbiology*
  • Swine Diseases / prevention & control