The Effectiveness of Antibiotics in the Prevention of Salmonella Typhimurium in Growing Chickens

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of medication in the prevention of Salmonella in growing chickens.

Material and Methods: All specimens were placed in an igloo with ice packs and transported to the laboratory for analysis. Bacteriological media obtained from Difco Laboratories Detroit MI U.S.A were used for the isolation and identification of Salmonella spp. Salmonella Serological typing was performed to determine the Salmonella serovar by standard procedures. Chickens were given a single dose of a wild-type multiresistant strain of Salmonella Typhimurium (resistant to many antibiotics including cloramphenicol and bactrim) by oral route (3x109 cfu/bird) as a challenge.

Results: The effectiveness of some medications in the reduction of Salmonella infections in growing chicken revealed that none of the groups including the control group showed any clinical signs of salmonellosis. However, post-mortem specimens including caeca showed the presence of Salmonella in 1.6 % (1/60) each of chickens treated with Menorox and Neochlore, compared to 23% (14/60) among the control group.

Conclusions: Antibiotics including Trisulvitrim, Menorox and Neochlore reduced significantly Salmonella Typhimurium infection in growing chickens. There was a very little information in the literature about the use of antibiotics to treat Salmonella infections in chickens that is one of the most prevalence zoonosis