Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Veterinary Research Institute, Livestock and Dairy Development Department, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan
2
Institute of Microbiology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan
3
Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan
4
Institute of Microbiology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore
5
Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, Texas, United States of America
6
Health & population department, Government of Punjab, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan
7
Poultry Research Institute (PRI), Livestock & Dairy Development (L&DD) Department, Rawalpindi, 46000, Pakistan
8
Veterinary Research Institute, Livestock & Dairy Development Department, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan
10.30466/vrf.2026.2089207.5090
Abstract
Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium is a major pathogen associated with poultry. This paper assesses bacteriophage therapy as a potential method for reducing S. typhimurium infections in poultry birds, as well as their surroundings. For current study, 168 one-day-old desi chicks were selected and divided into five groups: negative control, positive control, prophylactic, 3-days, Delayed post challenge and 6-hours post-challenge groups. For experiment, birds were orally dosed with 10⁵ CFU/mL of S. typhimurium on day 4 of trial. Test groups were administered a bacteriophage cocktail (10⁷ PFU/mL) orally, intra-nasally, or through drinkers. Quantitative assessment of bacteria loads was done by performing dilution plate counts using XLD agar and the log reduction determined. The positive group exhibited a natural progression of bacterial infection, with bacterial counts increasing from 4.82 CFU/ml at 3rd day post challenge to 5.45 CFU/ml (7th day), and 5.20 CFU/ml (14th day). The prophylactic group recorded the greatest level of the bacterial decrease; the log10 of this decrease were equal to 1.94 (3rd day), 1.73 (7th day), and 1.22 (14th day) after the oral gavage. For drinking water administration, values were 1.84, 1.66, and 1.12 for log reduction, whereas, for nasal spray, the values were 1.17, 0.88, and 0.41 on 3rd, ,7th and 14th day respectively. 6-hour post-challenge group was also having moderate reduction, (1.63, 1.37, 1.22 through oral gavage) while the 3-days post-challenge group possessed slightly less reduction (1.56, 1.24, 0.92). The lowest levels of bacteria were found when microbes were given via oral gavage and drinking water.
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