Efficacy of a bacteriophage cocktail (Arash and Ariobarzanes) in the treatment of Salmonella typhimurium infection in a rat model.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The present study exploits Salmonella typhimurium-specific bacteriophages for their application in the treatment of infections caused by S. typhimurium ATCC 14028 in male Sprague-Dawley rats. METHODS: A bacteriophage cocktail including two phages, Arash and Ariobarzanes, belonging to the genera Arashvirus and Chivirus, respectively, was administered to rats inoculated with S. typhimurium, and microbiological, haematological, pathological, and immunological parameters were examined. RESULTS: Bacteriophage treatment resulted in a decrease in Salmonella spp. shedding in faeces and their internal organs, as well as at the reduction of the levels of inflammatory cytokines, including tumour necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-8, on different days from d 0 to d 9 post-infection. However, oral gavage of this phage cocktail did not have a significant and visible effect on the improvement of pathological lesions in organs such as the liver and cecum, as well as on haematological and serum biochemical indices. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, a cocktail including phages Arash and Ariobarzanes can at least reduce the S. typhimurium counts in faeces, organs, and inflammatory mediators in rats with Salmonellosis infection.