International Livestock Research Institute and University of Laval (Canada) expect to develop a phage delivery system to improve protection against Salmonella strains isolated from Kenyan poultry farms. The 33-month project received a total funding of CA$ 2,909,200  from the International Development Research Centre.

In Kenya, poultry farming represents about 30% of the total agricultural contribution to GDP. Infectious disease associated with poultry farming and egg production poses a high health risk to farmers and consumers.

Currently, Salmonella infections in these farms are controlled using antibiotics. Approximately 75% of the antibiotics administered to poultry  are released into the environment and has been shown to contribute to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. Scientists are looking for alternatives to antibiotics and the goal of this project is to investigate bacteriophage-based solutions to kill salmonella strains isolated from poultry farms in Kenya. Salmonella collected from poultry farms will be determine strain typing for antibiotic resistance.