The protective effect of dietary supplementation of Salmonella-specific bacteriophages in post-weaning piglets challenged with Salmonella typhimurium

Yong Won,Sung Kim,Jeong Han

doi:10.5455/javar.2021.h532

Abstract

Objective:The efficacy of Salmonella typhimurium-specific bacteriophage STP-1 on S. typhimurium infection in weaning piglets was evaluated in this study.Material and Methods:Twenty-eight weaning piglets were randomly allocated to four groups (Group A: non-challenged/basal; Group B: non-challenged/+phage; Group C: challenged/basal; Group D: challenged/+phage) according to S. typhimurium infection or bacteriophage administration. The total experimental period (14 days) was subdivided in to non-challenged periods (phase I; day 1–7) and challenged periods (phase II; day 7–14) based on the challenging date (day 7). Each group was fed with basal feed or feed supplemented with bacteriophage STP-1 [1.0 × 109 plaque-forming unit (PFU)/kg] during the whole period (day 1–14). Body weights (BW) were measured to evaluate growth performance. Clinical symptoms (rectal temperatures and fecal consistency) induced by S. typhimurium were regularly checked. Bacteria colonization levels in feces and intestinal tissue samples were measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). After necropsy, small intestine samples (jejunum) were collected. Villus height and crypt depth (CD) were measured through histological examination with H&E staining.Results:The supplementation of bacteriophage significantly reduced bacterial colonization and intestine damage in the piglets infected with S. typhimurium. In the antigen concentrations of the feces and jejunum, Group C showed 5.8 ± 0.6, 5.7 ± 0.6, and 1.2 ± 2.0 log colony-forming unit (CFU)/ml on 1, 3, and 7 days post-inoculation (DPI) and 2.8 ± 1.3 log CFU/ml, whereas Group D showed 3.5 ± 1.7, 2.2 ± 2.1, and 0.3 ± 0.9 log CFU/ml on 1, 3, and 7 DPI and 5.1 ± 0.9 log CFU/ml. In the villous height, Groups C and D showed 266.3 ± 24.1 and 324.6 ± 18.0 μm, respectively. In the goblet cell density of villi and crypts, Group C showed 10.0 ± 1.8 and 16.0 ± 3.7, while Group D showed 15.0 ± 4.8 and 21.1 ± 5.4. Also, the supplementation of bacteriophage significantly improved the growth performance in the infected piglets. The average daily gains of Groups C and D were 91 ± 24 and 143 ± 23, respectively, during the period after inoculation with S. typhimurium.Conclusion:The dietary supplementation of the phage was effective for alleviating S. typhimurium infection in post-weaning piglets.

Highlights

Bacteriophage was first discovered by Twort and d’Herelle in 1910 and was used as a preventive remedy for bacterial diseases
The efficacy of Salmonella typhimurium-specific bacteriophage STP-1 on S. typhimurium infection in weaning piglets was evaluated in this study
In phase I, there was no significant difference in the Body weights (BW) and average daily gain (ADG) between the experimental groups

Summary

Introduction

Bacteriophage was first discovered by Twort and d’Herelle in 1910 and was used as a preventive remedy for bacterial diseases. Early bacteriophage studies were not approached systematically, and these studies have not been continued due to the rapid development of chemotherapy, including antibiotics. The emergence and increase in pathogenic bacteria resistant to antibiotics have become a big problem [1]; there is a growing interest in alternative antibiotic therapy to solve these problems. How to cite: Won YK, Kim SJ, Han JH. The protective effect of dietary supplementation of Salmonella-specific bacteriophages in post-weaning piglets challenged with Salmonella typhimurium. J Adv Vet Anim Res 2021; 8(3):440447

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