Colicins as antibiotic alternatives for the treatment and prevention of post-weaning diarrhea and edema disease in swine.

Iowa State University Animal Industry Report 2005. It is estimated that over 50% of all economic losses in weaned pigs are due to Escherichia coli infections, causing either diarrhea or edema disease. Despite animal health and economic concerns, concerns over the spread of antibiotic resistance will limit the types of antibiotics that can be used in production animals. Therefore, we have examined alternatives to conventional antibiotics.