Evaluation of a novel antimicrobial polymer for the control of porcine postweaning colibacillosis.

摘要

Two experiments were conducted in which 50 young pigs, either receiving CHEMYDE polymer in their food or not, were challenged orally with cultures of beta-haemolytic Escherichia coli immediately after weaning. Their response in terms of developmentof diarrhoea, and the extent of colonization of the intestinal tract by the bacteria was monitored. In a third experiment CHEMYDE polymer was added to the water supply of a group of 15 pigs on a piggery where postweaning colibacillosis (PWC) was an ongoing clinical problem. The response of these pigs was compared with that of pigs vaccinated against PWC or left unmedicated. In both experimental infection trials the pigs receiving CHEMYDE polymer showed significantly reduced intestinal colonization withthe challenge strain of E coli, and, in trial 2, significantly less diarrhoea after weaning compared to pigs not receiving CHEMYDE polymer. In the field trial the pigs receiving CHEMYDE polymer had significantly less diarrhoea and required significantlyless antibiotic treatment than the other 2 groups of pigs. It is concluded that CHEMYDE polymer has potential for use in the control of PWC.