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

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether CHEMYDERTM polymer has potential for use in the control of porcine postweaning colibacillosis (PWC). PROCEDURE: Two experiments were conducted in which 50 young pigs, either receiving CHEMYDERTM polymer in their food or not, were challenged orally with cultures of beta-haemolytic Escherichia coli immediately after weaning. Their response in terms of development of diarrhoea, and the extent of colonisation of the intestinal tract by the bacteria was monitored. In a third experiment 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 of 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 challenge strain of E coli, and, in trial 2, significantly less diarrhoea after weaning compared to pigs not receiving CHEMYDERTM polymer. In the field trial the pigs receiving CHEMYDERTM polymer had significantly less diarrhoea and required significantly less antibiotic treatment than the other two groups of pigs. CONCLUSION: CHEMYDERTM polymer has potential for use in the control of PWC.