Carus Animal Health Showcases Cutting-Edge Phage Research Through Series of High-Profile Talks

Over the past month, Dr Ben Swift, R&D Laboratory Manager and Senior Microbiologist at Carus Animal Health, has delivered a trio of influential talks at major scientific events, reinforcing the company’s position at the forefront of innovation in animal health and bacteriophage isolation.

Spanning topics from methane reduction to antibiotic alternatives using bacteriophages, the presentations highlight two areas where Carus Animal Health is both deeply invested and highly regarded: methane reduction for sustainability and bacteriophage-based therapeutics.

Pioneering Methane Reduction Through Microbiome Science

The first talk, delivered on 25th March at the Bacteriophage Therapy Summit, explored a novel and increasingly critical field: reducing livestock methane emissions through targeted microbiome intervention.

Titled “Harnessing Phages to Modulate Rumen Microbiomes for Methane Reduction”, the presentation examined how bacteriophages - viruses that infect bacteria - can be used to selectively target methanogens in the rumen.

Key highlights included:

• Investigating the use of methanogen-specific phages to precisely alter archaeal populations responsible for methane production
• Assessing the broader impact of these interventions on microbiome stability, nutrient cycling, and greenhouse gas output
• Drawing parallels between rumen and human gut ecosystems, offering insights that extend beyond veterinary science

This work underscores Carus Animal Health’s commitment to tackling global sustainability challenges through advanced microbiological approaches.

Advancing Alternatives to Antibiotics in Livestock

Ben’s subsequent two talks, delivered at the Microbiology Society Annual Conference in Belfast (13th April 2026) and the BISAS Annual Conference in York (16th April 2026), focused on a second core strength of the company: phage-based alternatives to antibiotics.

Both presentations featured the same talk:

“Isolation and Application of Novel Bacteriophages Against the Cattle Pathogen Moraxella bovis.”

The research addresses infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK), a significant cattle disease traditionally treated with antibiotics.

Highlights from the work include:

• Development of a novel bacteriophage cocktail targeting Moraxella bovis, paired with a gel-based delivery system designed to prolong activity in the eye
• Isolation of 30+ bacteriophages from over 400 UK abattoir samples, with three selected strains demonstrating effectiveness against over 90% of a US clinical isolate panel
• Evidence from a pilot study in calves, where treatment significantly reduced bacterial load, marking an important step toward viable phage-based therapies

Leading the Future of Animal Health

Together, these talks showcase Carus Animal Health’s leadership in bacteriophage technology development in animal health.

Ben’s contributions over the past month not only highlight individual scientific excellence but also reflect a broader mission: to push the boundaries of what’s possible in animal health through innovation, passion, and rigorous research.