Plant proanthocyanidin extract effective at inhibiting adherence of bacteria with p-type fimbriae to surfaces

A method of preventing or treating a urogenital infection in a livestock animal which comprises administering

• a food composition comprising livestock feed in admixture with one or more proanthocyanidin compounds consisting of an average of from at least four to about seven epicatechin flavanoid units, wherein each proanthocyanidin compound has at least two of said units are linked together by an A-type interflavanoid linkage by bonds between C4 and C8 and between the C2 and the oxygen of C7 of the units and the remainder of the units are linked to each other by a B-type interflavanoid bond between C4 and C8 or between C4 and C6 of the units
• to said animal in an amount and for a time to prevent, reduce or eliminate symptoms associated with said infection.

A method of reducing the pathogenicity of P-type E. coli in the digestive tracts of an animal which comprises administering

• a food composition comprising livestock feed in admixture with one or more proanthocyanidin compounds consisting of an average of from at least four to about seven epicatechin flavanoid units, wherein each proanthocyanidin compound has at least two of said units are linked together by an A-type interflavanoid linkage by bonds between C4 and C8 and between the C2 and the oxygen of C7 of the units and the remainder of the units are linked to each other by a B-type interflavanoid bond between C4 and C8 or between C4 and C6 of the units
• to said animal for a time and in an amount to reduce the detectable number of P-type E. coli bacterial cells in the feces or urine of said animal.

A method of preventing or treating a urogenital infection in a domesticated animal which comprises administering

• a food composition comprising domestic animal feed in admixture with one or more proanthocyanidin compounds consisting of an average of from at least four to about seven epicatechin flavanoid units, wherein each proanthocyanidin compound has at least two of said units are linked together by an A-type interflavanoid linkage by bonds between C4 and C8 and between the C2 and the oxygen of C7 of the units and the remainder of the units are linked to each other by a B-type interflavanoid bond between C4 and C8 or between C4 and C6 of the units;
• to said animal in an amount and for a time to prevent, reduce or eliminate symptoms associated with said infection.

A method of preventing or treating a urogenital infection in a human which comprises administering

• a food composition comprising a consumable food product in admixture with one or more proanthocyanidin compounds consisting of an average of from at least four to about seven epicatechin flavanoid units, wherein each proanthocyanidin compound has at least two of said units are linked together by an A-type interflavanoid linkage by bonds between C4 and C8 and between the C2 and the oxygen of C7 of the units and the remainder of the units are linked to each other by a B-type interflavanoid bond between C4 and C8 or between C4 and C6 of the units;
• to said human in an amount and for a time to prevent, reduce or eliminate symptoms associated with said infection.

A method of preventing or treating diarrhea in a mammal which comprises administering a pharmaceutical composition to said mammal in an amount and for a time sufficient to prevent, reduce or eliminate symptoms associated with said diarrhea, wherein said pharmaceutical composition comprises a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier in admixture with one or more

• proanthocyanidin compounds consisting of an average of from at least four to about seven epicatechin flavanoid units, wherein each proanthocyanidin compound has at least two of said units linked together by an A-type interflavanoid linkage by bonds between C4 and C8 and between C2 and the oxygen of C7 of the units and the remainder of the units are linked to each other by a B-type interflavanoid bond between C4 and C8 or between C4 and C6 of the units.

A method of inhibiting adherence of P-type E. coli to a surface which comprises contacting said bacteria with one or more proanthocyanidin compounds prior to or concurrently with contacting said bacteria with said surface, wherein said proanthocyanidin compounds are selected from the group consisting of

• proanthocyanidin compounds consisting of an average of from at least four to about seven epicatechin flavanoid units, wherein each proanthocyanidin compound has at least two of said units linked together by an A-type interflavanoid linkage by bonds between C4 and C8 and between C2 and the oxygen of C7 of the units and the remainder of the units are linked to each other by a B-type interflavanoid bond between C4 and C8 or between C4 and C6 of the units.

A method of reducing the incidence of infection after surgery, treating topical wounds or acne, or preventing or eliminating oral infection which comprises administering a pharmaceutical composition to a site of infection or potential infection in a patient, wherein said pharmaceutical composition comprises a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier in admixture with one or more

• proanthocyanidin compounds consisting of an average of from at least four to about seven epicatechin flavanoid units, wherein each proanthocyanidin compound has at least two of said units linked together by an A-type interflavanoid linkage by bonds between C4 and C8 and between C2 and the oxygen of C7 of the units and the remainder of the units are linked to each other by a B-type interflavanoid bond between C4 and C8 or between C4 and C6 of the units.