Histopatologi Lambung dan Usus Halus Tikus Putih dengan Terapi Bakteriofag Rekombinan ϕSen-NF-rec

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a serious threat to public health, including in Indonesia, particularly in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium infections that show multidrug resistance to various antibiotics. One promising alternative approach is bacteriophage therapy, especially recombinant bacteriophages, which have higher infection efficiency and lytic activity. This study aims to evaluate the effect of recombinant phage therapy ϕSen-NF-rec on the histopathology of the stomach and small intestine of white rats (Rattus norvegicus) infected with Salmonella enterica. This study used an in vivo experimental design with a completely randomized design consisting of eight treatment groups and three replicates. The parameters observed included mucosal necrosis, mucosal cell apoptosis, tissue edema, and inflammatory cell infiltration, which were assessed through histopathological scoring. Data were analyzed using the Kruskal–Wallis test followed by the Mann–Whitney U test. The results showed that Salmonella enterica infection caused significant histopathological damage to the stomach and small intestine. Prophylactic administration of the recombinant bacteriophage ϕSen-NF-rec provided the best protection for the gastric mucosa, while therapeutic administration showed the most optimal histopathological improvement in the small intestine. Overall, recombinant bacteriophage ϕSen-NF-rec proved to be more effective than bacteriophage ϕWild-Type in reducing the degree of tissue damage caused by Salmonella enterica infection, thus having the potential as an alternative therapy in overcoming antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections.