title: Reduction of Campylobacter jejuni in broiler chicken by successive application of group II and group III phages.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bacteriophage treatment is a promising tool to reduce Campylobacter in chickens. Several studies have been published where group II or group III phages were successfully applied. However, these two groups of phages are different regarding their host ranges and host cell receptors. Therefore, a concerted activity of group II and group III phages might enhance the efficacy of a treatment and decrease the number of resistant bacteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this study we have compared the lytic properties of some group II and group III phages and analysed the suitability of various phages for a reduction of C. jejuni in broiler chickens. We show that group II and group III phages exhibit different kinetics of infection. Two group III and one group II phage were selected for animal experiments and administered in different combinations to three groups of chickens, each containing ten birds. While group III phage CP14 alone reduced Campylobacter counts by more than 1 log10 unit, the concomitant administration of a second group III phage (CP81) did not yield any reduction, probably due to the development of resistance induced by this phage. One group of chickens received phage CP14 and, 24 hours later, group II phage CP68. In this group of animals, Campylobacter counts were reduced by more than 3 log10 units.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The experiments illustrated that Campylobacter phage cocktails have to be carefully composed to achieve the best results.
authors.affiliation: Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Jens A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hammerl
authors.affiliation: Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jäckel
authors.affiliation: Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Alter
authors.affiliation: Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Pawel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Janzcyk
authors.affiliation: Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stingl
authors.affiliation: Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Marie Theres
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Knüver
authors.affiliation: Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hertwig
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000502:physiology*; D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D016123:Campylobacter jejuni / Q000502:physiology / Q000821:virology*; D002645:Chickens; D008297:Male; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*