Antimicrobial Effects of Camel Milk against Some Bacterial Pathogens

The present study was aimed to investigate the protective effects of camel milk against pathogenicity induced by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and E. coli in Wistar rats. Sixty healthy adult male Wistar rats were divided into six groups (10 per group). Group 1 served as a control without any treatment. Group 2 received camel milk for two consecutive weeks. Group 3 injected intraperitoneally (IP) by S. aureus in a doses of 2x10 CFU/ml per rat. Group 4 injected IP by E.coli in a dose of 5x10 CFU/ml per rat. Group 5 supplemented with camel milk for two consecutive weeks and then injected IP by S.aureus (2x10 CFU/ml per rat). Group 6 supplemented with camel milk for two consecutive weeks and then injected IP by E.coli (5x10 CFU/ml per rat). All animals were decapitated after 3 weeks, serum was extracted and liver, kidney and lung tissues were taken for pathogen isolation. The isolation rate and pathogenicity of S. aureus and E. coli was high in rats injected pathogens alone (group 3 and 4) compared to camel milk and pathogens administered rats (group 5 and 6). The isolation of S. aureus and E. coli was high in intestine, then lung, kidney and liver. Prior camel milk supplementation ameliorated the degree of pathogenicity induced by pathogens. Camel milk had synergistic action with ciprofloxacin against S. aureus and E. coli to reduce bacterial resistance and decrease the dose of antibiotics. Pathogens injection alone induced significant amelioration in liver and kidney functions and prior camel milk administration inhibited such changes. Moreover, oxidative stress represented by the increase in malondialdehyde levels in serum of pathogens injected rats was decreased by prior camel milk administration. In conclusion, camel milk has beneficial role as antibacterial food supplement against S.aureus and E.coli pathogenicity in Wistar rats.