Eco-Informed Phage Strategies: Integrative Approaches to Animal Health and Antimicrobial Stewardship

Integrating bacteriophage therapy into animal health appears to be a promising answer as environmental concerns over antibiotic use increase and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) worsens. By providing tailored bacterial control, phages lessen the need for broad-spectrum antibiotics and delay the emergence of resistant types of bacteria. An eco-informed strategy takes into account the ecological consequences of using phages, such as the dangers of horizontal gene transfer, environmental persistence, and effects on non-target bacteria. This approach uses a multidisciplinary framework that integrates ecology, policy, veterinary science, and microbiology to guarantee the sustainability and efficacy of phage therapy. The creation of phage cocktails to increase host range, the improvement of delivery systems for increased stability and effectiveness, and the establishment of precise regulatory parameters are core techniques. Eco-informed phage therapy is a forward-thinking approach to antimicrobial stewardship and sustainable disease management in animal agriculture, with its roots in the One Health concept, which connects human, animal, and environmental well-being.