Treating chickens without antibiotics

July 29, 2024

This groundbreaking technology developed by Paul Ebner opens a new front for APEC treatment, without relying on antibiotics. Bacteriophage treatments will benefit farmers and consumers, once is more effective, reduces resistant bacteria and there’s no residual left on the meat.

Raquel Peron

Licensing Associate

summary

A disease called APEC infects chickens and is usually treated with antibiotics. However, many countries have banned these antibiotics because the bacteria are becoming resistant to them. Researchers have found a way to use viruses to infect and kill bacteria associated with APEC.

PROBLEM

A disease called APEC that infects poultry is usually controlled through antibiotics, but the growth of antibiotic resistance has led several countries to prohibit many previously approved treatments used in poultry production.

SOLUTION

A Purdue University researcher and his team have identified several bacteriophages, or viruses that infect and replicate only in bacterial cells, to treat APEC. Tests show that the viruses significantly reduce APEC in the treated chickens. The treatments did not negatively impact the birds’ growth or performance and the birds did not develop an immune response to them.