Antibiotic-Free Treatments for Fowl Typhoid & APEC

The rise in antibiotic-resistant bacteria has decreased the ability to control key bacterial infections, making resistance one of the biggest challenges in veterinary medicine. Using bacteriophages has the potential to control bacterial infections without contributing to antibiotic resistance. Purdue University researchers have developed and validated treatments that, along with good flock management, could significantly reduce the need for antibiotics in maintaining bird health and impact the food chain.

Given the potential for antibiotic resistance among birds to also affect other species as well as humans, this research supports Purdue’s One Health mission, which drives innovation at the intersection of human, animal and plant health.

solution 1

Fowl typhoid treatment

Researchers have developed an antibiotic-free treatment for fowl typhoid with the use of encapsulated poly-bacteriophages that significantly reduce Salmonella gallinarum concentrations in poultry ceca compared to untreated birds infected with Salmonella gallinarum. Oral administration of the treatment to chickens infected with Salmonella gallinarum significantly reduced the concentration of Salmonella gallinarum in the treated chickens’ ceca contents.

This technology, which has been verified in a chicken model, could be expanded to include other species of livestock and their respective pathogens.

solution 2

APEC treatment

Researchers have discovered and tested the capacity of seven bacteriophage treatments to prevent and control Avian Pathogenic E. Coli (APEC) infections in poultry.

Taken together, they lysed 90% of the APEC strains that were tested. When given to chickens, the treatment resulted in significant reductions of APEC in the treated chickens’ lungs and ceca. The treatments did not negatively impact growth or performance, and the birds did not develop an immune response to the phages.

Industry partners interested in developing or commercializing the innovations should contact Clayton Houck, Senior Licensing Associate – Life Sciences, cjhouck@prf.org.

When given to chickens, the treatment results in significant reductions of APEC in the treated chickens’ lungs and ceca. Additionally, the treatments do not negatively impact growth or performance, and the birds do not develop an immune response to the phages.