Dj. Hampson et al., Evaluation of a novel antimicrobial polymer for the control of porcine postweaning colibacillosis, AUST VET J, 78(2), 2000, pp. 117-120
Objective To determine whether CHEMYDERTM polymer has potential for use in
the control of porcine post-weaning colibacillosis (PWC).
Procedure Two experiments were conducted in which 50 young pigs, either rec
eiving CHEMYDERTM polymer in their food or not, were challenged orally with
cultures of beta-haemolytic Escherichia coli immediately after weaning. Th
eir response in terms of development of diarrhoea, and the extent of coloni
sation of the intestinal tract by the bacteria was monitored. In a third ex
periment CHEMYDERTM polymer was added to the water supply of a group of 15
pigs on a piggery where PWC was an ongoing clinical problem. The response o
f these pigs was compared with that of pigs vaccinated against PWC or left
unmedicated.
Results In both experimental infection trials the pigs receiving CHEMYDERTM
polymer showed significantly reduced intestinal colonisation with the chal
lenge strain of E coli, and, in trial 2, significantly less diarrhoea after
weaning compared to pigs not receiving CHEMYDERTM polymer. In the field tr
ial the pigs receiving CHEMYDERTM polymer had significantly less diarrhoea
and required significantly less antibiotic treatment than the other two gro
ups of pigs.
Conclusion CHEMYDERTM polymer has potential for use in the control of PWC.