Use of Phages to Treat Antimicrobial-Resistant Salmonella Infections in Poultry

Phages to Treat Antimicrobial-Resistant Salmonella Infections in Poultry

Phages or bacteriophages are viruses that specifically infect and destroy bacterial cells. In recent years, there have been increased efforts to use phages as antibacterial agents in poultry production.

In fact, studies have shown that phage therapy can effectively treat Salmonella infections in poultry without leading to MDR bacteria. However, the widespread adoption of phage therapy still faces many challenges, such as the practical difficulties in isolating and characterizing phages from natural sources and regulatory hurdles.

Nevertheless, phage therapy is a promising alternative to conventional antibiotics to control Salmonella infections in poultry and to combat antimicrobial resistance.

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The authors Md Abu Sayem Khan and Sabita Rezwana Rahman published their article Use of Phages to Treat Antimicrobial-Resistant Salmonella Infections in Poultry on 18 August 2022.

Key points include:

• Salmonellosis is a common bacterial infection that impacts both human health and poultry production.
• Antibiotics are usually recommended for treating Salmonella infections, but their misuse results in the evolution and spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria.
• To minimize the health and economic burdens associated with antimicrobial resistance, a novel antibacterial strategy that can obliterate pathogens without any adverse effects on humans and animals is urgently required. Therefore, therapeutic supplementation of phages has gained renewed attention because of their unique ability to lyse specific hosts, cost-effective production, environmentally-friendly properties, and other potential advantages over antibiotics.
• In addition, the safety and efficacy of phage therapy for controlling poultry-associated Salmonella have already been proven through experimental studies.

Abstract

Salmonellosis is one of the most common bacterial infections that impacts both human health and poultry production. Although antibiotics are usually recommended for treating Salmonella infections, their misuse results in the evolution and spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria.

To minimize the health and economic burdens associated with antimicrobial resistance, a novel antibacterial strategy that can obliterate pathogens without any adverse effects on humans and animals is urgently required.

Therefore, therapeutic supplementation of phages has gained renewed attention because of their unique ability to lyse specific hosts, cost-effective production, environmentally-friendly properties, and other potential advantages over antibiotics. In addition, the safety and efficacy of phage therapy for controlling poultry-associated Salmonella have already been proven through experimental studies.

Phages can be applied at every stage of poultry production, processing, and distribution through different modes of application. Despite having a few limitations, the optimized and regulated use of phage cocktails may prove to be an effective option to combat infections caused by MDR pathogens in the post-antibiotic era.

This article mainly focuses on the occurrence of salmonellosis in poultry and its reduction with the aid of bacteriophages. We particularly discuss the prevalence of Salmonella infections in poultry and poultry products; review the trends in antibiotic resistance; and summarize the application, challenges, and prospects of phage therapy in the poultry industry.

Keywords: Salmonella; bacteriophages; biocontrol; drug-resistant; poultry.

Copyright: the authors.