Bacteriophage therapy to combat bacterial infections in poultry

Abstract Infections in poultry are an economic and health problem in Europe and worldwide. The most common infections are associated with salmonellosis, colibacillosis, campylobacteriosis, and others. The prevalence of Campylobacter-positive poultry flocks in European countries varies from 18% to 90...

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Main Authors: Andrzej Wernicki, Anna Nowaczek, Renata Urban-Chmiel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2017-09-01
Series:Virology Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12985-017-0849-7
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author Andrzej Wernicki
Anna Nowaczek
Renata Urban-Chmiel
author_facet Andrzej Wernicki
Anna Nowaczek
Renata Urban-Chmiel
author_sort Andrzej Wernicki
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Infections in poultry are an economic and health problem in Europe and worldwide. The most common infections are associated with salmonellosis, colibacillosis, campylobacteriosis, and others. The prevalence of Campylobacter-positive poultry flocks in European countries varies from 18% to 90%. In the United States, the prevalence of infected flocks is nearly 90%. A similar percentage of infection has been noted for salmonellosis (about 75–90%) and E. coli (90–95%). The occurence of Clostridium perfringens is a major problem for the poultry industry, with some estimates suggesting colonization of as many as 95% of chickens, resulting in clinical or subclinical infections. In the US, annual economic losses due to Salmonella infections run from $1.188 billion to over $11.588 billion, based on an estimated 1.92 million cases. Similar costs are observed in the case of other types of infections. In 2005 economic losses in the the poultry industry due to mortalities reached 1,000,000 USD. Infections caused by these pathogens, often through poultry products, are also a serious public health issue. The progressive increase in the number of multi-drug resistant bacteria and the complete ban on the use of antibiotics in livestock feed in the EU, as well as the partial ban in the US, have led to the growth of research on the use of bacteriophages to combat bacterial infections in humans and animals. The high success rate and safety of phage therapy in comparison with antibiotics are partly due to their specificity for selected bacteria and the ability to infect only one species, serotype or strain. This mechanism does not cause the destruction of commensal bacterial flora. Phages are currently being used with success in humans and animals in targeted therapies for slow-healing infections. They have also found application in the US in eliminating pathogens from the surface of foods of animal and plant origin. At a time of growing antibiotic resistance in bacteria and the resulting restrictions on the use of antibiotics, bacteriophages can provide an alternative means of eliminating pathogens.
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spelling doaj.art-ff49ed2dd9724fbe882abc0008ed831b2022-12-22T00:54:41ZengBMCVirology Journal1743-422X2017-09-0114111310.1186/s12985-017-0849-7Bacteriophage therapy to combat bacterial infections in poultryAndrzej Wernicki0Anna Nowaczek1Renata Urban-Chmiel2Sub-Department of Veterinary Prevention and Avian Diseases, Institute of Biological Basis of Animal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life SciencesSub-Department of Veterinary Prevention and Avian Diseases, Institute of Biological Basis of Animal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life SciencesSub-Department of Veterinary Prevention and Avian Diseases, Institute of Biological Basis of Animal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life SciencesAbstract Infections in poultry are an economic and health problem in Europe and worldwide. The most common infections are associated with salmonellosis, colibacillosis, campylobacteriosis, and others. The prevalence of Campylobacter-positive poultry flocks in European countries varies from 18% to 90%. In the United States, the prevalence of infected flocks is nearly 90%. A similar percentage of infection has been noted for salmonellosis (about 75–90%) and E. coli (90–95%). The occurence of Clostridium perfringens is a major problem for the poultry industry, with some estimates suggesting colonization of as many as 95% of chickens, resulting in clinical or subclinical infections. In the US, annual economic losses due to Salmonella infections run from $1.188 billion to over $11.588 billion, based on an estimated 1.92 million cases. Similar costs are observed in the case of other types of infections. In 2005 economic losses in the the poultry industry due to mortalities reached 1,000,000 USD. Infections caused by these pathogens, often through poultry products, are also a serious public health issue. The progressive increase in the number of multi-drug resistant bacteria and the complete ban on the use of antibiotics in livestock feed in the EU, as well as the partial ban in the US, have led to the growth of research on the use of bacteriophages to combat bacterial infections in humans and animals. The high success rate and safety of phage therapy in comparison with antibiotics are partly due to their specificity for selected bacteria and the ability to infect only one species, serotype or strain. This mechanism does not cause the destruction of commensal bacterial flora. Phages are currently being used with success in humans and animals in targeted therapies for slow-healing infections. They have also found application in the US in eliminating pathogens from the surface of foods of animal and plant origin. At a time of growing antibiotic resistance in bacteria and the resulting restrictions on the use of antibiotics, bacteriophages can provide an alternative means of eliminating pathogens.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12985-017-0849-7BacteriophagesTherapyPoultry diseasesAntimicrobial resistance
spellingShingle Andrzej Wernicki
Anna Nowaczek
Renata Urban-Chmiel
Bacteriophage therapy to combat bacterial infections in poultry
Virology Journal
Bacteriophages
Therapy
Poultry diseases
Antimicrobial resistance
title Bacteriophage therapy to combat bacterial infections in poultry
title_full Bacteriophage therapy to combat bacterial infections in poultry
title_fullStr Bacteriophage therapy to combat bacterial infections in poultry
title_full_unstemmed Bacteriophage therapy to combat bacterial infections in poultry
title_short Bacteriophage therapy to combat bacterial infections in poultry
title_sort bacteriophage therapy to combat bacterial infections in poultry
topic Bacteriophages
Therapy
Poultry diseases
Antimicrobial resistance
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12985-017-0849-7
work_keys_str_mv AT andrzejwernicki bacteriophagetherapytocombatbacterialinfectionsinpoultry
AT annanowaczek bacteriophagetherapytocombatbacterialinfectionsinpoultry
AT renataurbanchmiel bacteriophagetherapytocombatbacterialinfectionsinpoultry