Wild-type lytic bacteriophages against Salmonella Heidelberg: Further characterization and effect of prophylactic therapy in broiler chickens.

To characterize wild-type bacteriophages and their effect on Salmonella Heidelberg intestinal colonization in broilers, phages combined in a cocktail were continuously delivered via drinking water since the first day after hatching. After challenge with a field strain, broilers were evaluated at regular intervals for S. Heidelberg and bacteriophages in tissues and cecum, and gross and microscopic lesions in organs. Phages were highly virulent against S. Heidelberg by efficiency of plating. One-step growth curves exhibited eclipse period from 20 to 25 min, whereas the lowest latent period and higher burst size found were 45 min and 54 PFU/cell, respectively. Bacteriophage whole genomic sequencing analyses revealed a lack of genes related to lysogeny, antimicrobial resistance, and virulence factors. Relevant gross or microscopic lesions were absent in tissues analyzed from treated broilers. Although numerically stable bacteriophage concentrations were detected in the cecal contents of treated broilers, no significant difference was found for the S. Heidelberg cecal load in comparison to the untreated group and for the prevalence of positive tissues throughout the evaluated period. The phages produced turbid plaques against some S. Heidelberg re-isolated from treated broilers, suggesting the evolving of a resistant subpopulation. Overall, the results provide new evidence of the safety and in vitro replication of such phages in S. Heidelberg. Nevertheless, continuous administration of the phage suspension most likely induced the development of bacteriophage-resistant mutants, which might have affected the in vivo effect. Therefore, a putative administration protocol should be based on other strategies, such as short-term therapy at pre-harvest age.

Antibacterial activity of vegetal extracts against serovars of Salmonella / Atividade antibacteriana de extratos vegetais sobre sorovares de Salmonella

in vitro antibacterial activity of 21 hydroethanolic vegetal extracts was assessed against 20 serovars of Salmonella. Regarding the tested extracts, 85.7 percent of them presented antibacterial activity. The six active extracts which showed activity on the largest number of serovars and the extract of Eucalyptus sp. were submitted to the determination of Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC). Of these, six extracts showed bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity with MIC and MBC for Punica granatum (pomegranate) from 20 and 60mg mL-1, for Eugenia jambolana (rose apple) from 40 and 240mg mL-1, Eugenia uniflora (surinam cherry) from 80 and 240mg mL-1, Caryophyllus aromaticus (clove) from 10 and 60mg mL-1, Psidium araca from 30 and 320mg mL-1 and Eucalyptus sp. from 40 and 160mg mL-1. Achyrocline satureioides (macela) presented only bacteriostatic potential and MIC from 160mg mL-1. Caryophyllus aromaticus, Eucalyptus sp., and Psidium araca presented the best results for bactericidal activity, inhibiting, respectively, 84.2 percent, 42.1 percent, and 17.6 percent of Salmonella's serovars. The activity of each extract varied for different serovars; S. London presented resistance to the six extracts in MBC, while S. Pullorum was the most susceptible serovar.

A atividade antibacteriana de 21 extratos hidroetanólicos vegetais foi avaliada in vitro frente a 20 sorovares de Salmonella. Dos extratos testados, 85,7 por cento apresentaram atividade antibacteriana. Os seis extratos que evidenciaram atividade sobre o maior número de sorovares e Eucalyptus sp. foram submetidos à determinação da Concentração Inibitória Mínima (CIM) e Concentração Bactericida Mínima (CBM). Destes, seis extratos apresentaram atividade bacteriostática e bactericida com MIC para Punica granatum (romã) a partir de 20 e 60mg mL-1, Eugenia jambolana (jambolão) de 40 e 240mg mL-1, Eugenia uniflora (pitanga) de 80 e 240mg mL-1, Caryophyllus aromaticus (cravo) de 10 e 60mg mL-1, Psidium araca (araçá) 30 e 320mg mL-1 e Eucalyptus sp. (eucalipto) de 40 e 160mg mL-1. Achyrocline satureioides (macela) apresentou apenas atividade bacteriostática e MIC a partir de 160mg mL-1. Caryophyllus aromaticus, Eucalyptus sp. e Psidium araca apresentaram os melhores resultados para a atividade bactericida, inativando, respectivamente, 84,21 por cento, 42,1 por cento e 17,64 por cento dos sorovares de Salmonella. A atividade de cada extrato variou para diferentes sorovares. Nenhum dos seis extratos avaliados evidenciou atividade bactericida frente a S. London, enquanto S. Pullorum foi o sorovar mais sensível.