Phage therapy: assessment of the efficacy of a bacteriophage isolated in the treatment of salmonellosis induced by Salmonella enteritidis in mice

AIM This work aims to isolate and perform comparative studies of a phages active against a Salmonella enteritidis strain from Iran. Also, suitable phage candidates for therapy of mice will be selected. BACKGROUND Bacteriophage is of particular interest as a biocontrol agent in the prevention of food-borne illnesses. In recent years tend to use bacteriophages to control pathogenic bacteria has increased. A bacteriophage is considered to be a potent antibiotic alternative for treating bacterial infections. METHODS the specific phages against Salmonella Enteritidis was isolated and candidates for therapy of mice will be selected. Mouses divided into the six specific groups. Groups of mice were as follows: A: Bacteri (control) B: Bacteri+ bacteriophage (Simultaneous), C: Bacteri + bacteriophage Four days later, D: Bacteriophage + bacteri four days later E: Bacteri+ Ciprofloxacin (Simultaneous) F: Bacteri+ ciprofloxacin+ bacteriophage (Simultaneous). RESULTS In this study, a lytic bacteriophage is isolated and it shows that phage has a head size of 46 nm and without a tail, by using an electron microscope. Oral administration of a single dose of 2 × 109 PFU/mouse bacteriophage enable to protect mouse against salmonellosis and it causes treatment of salmonellosis in mice. CONCLUSION The use of this phage compared to ciprofloxacin shows that in addition of the treatment of mouse, it also prevents weight loss.