Korean J Vet Res.  2013 Jun;53(2):83-88.

Field evaluation of Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli-specific bacteriophage (PhiCJ19) as a feed additive

• Yoo A
• Cha SB
• Shin MK
• Park HT
• Seo HS
• Kim JW
• Yoo HS

Abstract

Field efficacy of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli-specific phage (PhiCJ19) as a feed additive was evaluated in weaning piglets. Fifty-four piglets at 3~4 weeks old were allocated in three different groups and two of them were fed with bacteriophage at different concentrations (10(6) PFU/kg feed and 10(8) PFU/kg feed, respectively) for 30 days. Body weight and feed intake were measured at 10 days interval and body condition and fecal score were inspected every day. Based on the measurement, feed conversion rate (FCR) and average daily gain (ADG) of each group during 30 days were analyzed. The analysis suggests that the bacteriophage may help the improvement of FCR and ADG at 10(8) PFU/kg of bacteriophage feeding group in 30 days. A result from analysis of fecal score indicates that the bacteriophage also may help to relieve the intermittent diarrhea in post-weaning stage. Those results suggest that bacteriophage might help the growth of piglets in post-weaning stage.

Keyword

bacteriophage; enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli; feed additive; field efficacy

MeSH Terms

Bacteriophages
Body Weight
Diarrhea
Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli
Escherichia
Weaning