Bacteriophage Administration Reduces the Concentration ofListeria monocytogenesin the Gastrointestinal Tract and Its Translocation to Spleen and Liver in Experimentally Infected Mice

Abstract

To investigate the efficacy of phage supplementation in reducing pathogen numbers, mice were treated via oral gavage with aListeria monocytogenesphage preparation (designated ListShield) before being orally infected withL. monocytogenes. The concentrations ofL. monocytogenesin the liver, spleen, and intestines were significantly lower (P<.05) in the phage-treated than in the control mice. Phage and antibiotic treatments were similarly effective in reducing the levels ofL. monocytogenesin the internal organs of the infected mice. However, the significant weight loss detected in the control and antibiotic-treated groups was not observed in the infected, ListShield-treated mice. Long-term (90 days), biweekly treatment of uninfected mice with ListShield did not elicit detectable changes in the microbiota of their large intestines or deleterious changes in their health. Our data support the potential feasibility of using bacteriophages to control proliferation ofL. monocytogenesin mice without affecting commensal microbiota composition.