The phage for PPLA age: effective method for Salmonella-free poultry feed

Area of Science:

• Food Safety
• Microbiology
• Animal Science

Background:

• Salmonella is a major foodborne pathogen, with poultry being a common source of human infections.
• Contaminated poultry feed is a primary route for Salmonella transmission into flocks.
• Antimicrobial resistance necessitates alternative strategies to control bacterial pathogens in food chains.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of bacteriophage cocktail BAFASAL in preventing and reducing Salmonella contamination in poultry feed.
• To assess the effectiveness of BAFASAL delivered via post-pellet liquid application (PPLA) in both in vitro and in vivo models.
• To explore BAFASAL as a safe alternative to antibiotics for controlling Salmonella in animal feed.

Main Methods:

• In vitro testing of BAFASAL at two concentrations (1 × 10⁴ and 5 × 10⁴ PFU/g) on artificially contaminated poultry feed.
• In vivo challenge study using broiler chickens fed with BAFASAL/PPLA-treated or untreated Salmonella-contaminated feed.
• Monitoring Salmonella presence in crop samples and cecal contents at various time points.

Main Results:

• Both BAFASAL concentrations reduced Salmonella spp. counts by at least three logs in vitro.
• In vivo, no Salmonella was detected in crop samples from birds receiving BAFASAL/PPLA-treated feed after 3 days.
• A statistically significant reduction of over four logs in Salmonella colonization was observed in cecal contents of treated birds.

Conclusions:

• Bacteriophage cocktail BAFASAL, applied via PPLA, is highly effective in preventing and reducing Salmonella contamination in poultry feed.
• BAFASAL represents a promising, safe, and viable alternative to conventional antimicrobial agents for ensuring feed safety.
• The PPLA method allows for scalable application of bacteriophages in industrial poultry farming to mitigate food chain pathogen risks.