Animal welfare is a major concern these days, which related to the environmental factors that have direct effect on animal health and production. Water and food hygiene from the main factors which must be considered inside the livestock farms. This study aims to the assessment of hygienic status of drinking water in some poultry farms with biocontrol of some water borne pathogens which poses a severe threat to bird’s health. Water samples were collected from 6 poultry farms and assessed chemically, physically and bacteriologically for Salmonella and E. coli. Naturally occurring phages from sewage water were isolated and characterized, and the antimicrobial effect of isolated phages against the Salmonella and E. coli isolates were assessed. In our study, the pH, hardness and ammonia of the drinking water given to the broiler in the studied farms were unhygienic in summer than in winter and exceeded the recommended standard specially during the summer. E. coli and Salmonella isolation on the level of season, during the winter season, out of 30 water samples 9 were positive for E. coli and 5 were positive for Salmonella. Meanwhile, in summer season out of 30 water samples 12 (40%) were positive for E. coli and 10 (33.3%) were positive for Salmonella. The three Salmonella serovars found in the water samples were S. Typhimurium, S. Thompson and S. Newport and S. Typhimurium had the most permanent serotype. One phenotypic phage was isolated from sewage water which was categorized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) into Straboviridae family. Isolated water borne pathogens (Salmonella and E. coli) were susceptible to phage infection. Therefore, isolated phages have antimicrobial action. The results suggested that the naturally isolated bacteriophage could be used as a powerful and ecofriendly antibacterial agent in poultry farm to overcome water borne pathogens.
Key words: Bacteriophages; sewage; water
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