The Effect of Baytril against Salmonella london Infection in Chickens

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to obtain additional information regarding the effectiveness of Enrofloxacin (Baytril®) against artificially induced infection of S. london in chickens. One hundred and sixty one day old chicks of mixed sex were divided equally into two groups A (treated group) and B (control, infected non-treated group). Chicks were reared on separated rooms on wood shavings litter, and given water and irradiated feed continuously for 55 days. All chickens were infected at 3 days with 4×105 S. london/ml in drinking water. The administration of salmonella was followed by intestinal colonization, detected by isolation of salmonella from cloacal swabs, caecal contents and quantitative numeration per grams of caecal contents, weekly for 8 weeks. Group A was treated with Enrofloxacin (Baytril®) 0.5 ml/L drinking water on day 45 for 5 days. Twelve days after the end of the therapy the presence of salmonella could not be detected by cloacal swabs and in caecal contents. This suggests that Baytril seems to have a good efficiency in total elimination of salmonella from the intestine of infected chickens.