Patent ID: 7629002

Claim:
A method for treating gastrointestinal disease in an animal subject comprising: preparing a polymeric antimicrobial by reacting poly(2-propenal, 2-propenoic acid) with polyalkylene glycol in the presence of water at a temperature between 60° C. and 150° C. for between 1 to 170 hours, wherein the poly(2-propenal, 2-propenoic acid) contains from 0.1 to 5 moles of carboxyl groups per kilogram of polymer, whereby antimicrobial activity of the polymeric antimicrobial derived from poly(2-propenal, 2-propenoic acid) is increased compared with the poly(2-propenal, 2-propenoic acid); and administering the prepared polymeric antimicrobial to an animal subject to treat gastrointestinal disease of the animal subject.