Prophylactic phage therapy in infant rabbits model of cholera

A number of 8 phages lytic of V. cholerae O1- biotype-EI-Tor, serotype Inaba were selected for the formulation of a phage cocktail. A phage cocktail composed of 8 phages was prepared and showed 100% inhibition of V. cholerae isolates comparing with a percentage ranged from 0-75% for every single phage in growth inhibition assay. The potential activity of phage cocktail of prophylactic therapy for infant rabbits model of cholera was evaluated through phage retention time and length of phage prophylaxis studies. Results have been showed that phage cocktail was potent in the prevention of development of cholera in infant rabbits dosed with 5 x 10 PFU of phage cocktail in 3, 12, and 24 hours prior to infection with V. cholerae. The infant rabbits administered with the prophylactic dose of the phage cocktail showed no signs of profuse diarrhea and lost 10% of dose body weight after 20 hours of infection with V. cholerae comparing with the infant rabbits non-treated with prophylactic phage dose which lost 10-15% of the bodyweight within 10-14 hours after infection with V. cholerae. It is concluded that the results of the animal models confirmed the ability of phage therapy for cases of cholera and it is a highly promising alternative antimicrobial therapy for such cases.