Characterization and Application of Lytic Bacteriophages against Campylobacter jejuni Isolated from Poultry in Japan

The aim was to isolate Campylobacter jejuni-specific lytic phages from meats on the market in Japan. These phages were effectively isolated from 13 of 15 (86.7%) retail chicken meat samples (skin and liver) by the enrichment method using Preston Campylobacter Selective Enrichment Broth and 10 host Campylobacter strains. Among the 26 phage isolates, 14 were extracted by means of C. jejuni L26 as a host strain. Phage PHC10 showed the broadest lytic spectrum: active against 67.4% of the 46 C. jejuni strains tested. The other phage isolates showed different lytic spectra. Because phages PHC5, PHC10, PHC19, PHC22, and PHC25 possess an icosahedral head and a contracted tail, they seem to be members of the Myoviridae family. Effects of 19 phage isolates on viability of C. jejuni were investigated. These phages reduced viable counts of C. jejuni by 1-3 log after 6-12 h of incubation at 42 degrees C as compared to the initial counts. The C. jejuni L26 was found to be suitable as a host because of the wide hosting range. The phages isolated in this study seem to be promising biocontrol agents against C. jejuni in food.