July 3, 2012
USDA works on chlorate, nitro compounds to combat pathogens
The works of USDA scientists may see natural compounds being employed as future alternatives in treating young animals that are vulnerable to bacterial infections.
Nitro compounds are organic substances that contain one or more nitro groups, which consist of three atoms-one of nitrogen and two of oxygen-that act as one.
Chlorate and nitro compounds have proven to be effective against the foodborne pathogens Salmonella and Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7. Salmonella alone causes more than 1.3 million cases of human foodborne disease each year, at a cost of US$2.4 billion. Salmonella and certain E. coli strains also cause considerable losses to the swine and cattle industries due to enteric or intestinal diseases of new-borns.
Microbiologist Robin Anderson, and his colleagues demonstrated the effectiveness of a chlorate-based compound in earlier research by mixing it into water or feed and giving it to cattle. The compound, which was highly effective in reducing E. coli, has been licensed by a private company. Chlorate also reduced Salmonella in turkeys and broiler chickens.
The scientists also looked at using certain nitro compounds as a method to control foodborne bacteria. Salmonella or E. coli bacteria were treated with or without chlorate and with or without nitro compounds. Chlorate was found to have significant bacteria-killing activity against E. coli and Salmonella. However, chlorate has not been approved for commercial use in food animals by the USDA. When the nitro compound was added, the activity was enhanced 10-100-fold. Nitro compounds alone had significant bacteria-killing activity, which was more persistent than that of chlorate.
Dr Anderson and his team concluded that nitro and chlorate compounds together were the best treatment-a combination that could offer an alternative to certain antibiotics that are commonly used to treat diarrheal infections in young animals.
