Abstract
The primary objective of this study is to identify specific phages in wastewater that can effectively target various pathogenic Salmonella strains. These Salmonella isolates was confirmed through PCR testing of the invA-specific virulence gene. To monitor the enterobacterial community in cow's milk in real-time, the denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis technique was employed. The key findings revealed the existence of three distinct Salmonella phages, namely phages 1, 2, and 3, which were isolated through selection culture and identified using transmission electron microscopy. The lytic spectrum analysis of each phage demonstrated their activity against the tested Salmonella strains. By utilizing a combination of these three phages, complete inactivation of the tested Salmonella strains was achieved. This contrasted with the partial effectiveness observed when only one or two phages were added manually to milk contaminated with Salmonella. The denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis technique further confirmed the successful eradication of Salmonella through the three-phage cocktail, as evidenced by the absence of BNA bands in the experimental samples. This research has uncovered new perspectives and convincing results that support the potential use of phage therapy in combating salmonella infections within agri-food systems.