Poisoning in a chicken flock caused by sulphachloropyrazine
Reece, R.L.; Barr, D.A.; Gould, J.A.
Veterinary Record 119(13): 324-325
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 3776041 Document Number: 269601
Between 14 and 16 weeks of age, 14 of 2500 pullets in a flock reared on litter died of coccidiosis and many others became depressed and lost weight. The birds were treated with aprolium and ethopabate for 5 days but the treatment was changed to sodium sulphachloropyrazine monohydrate (SSM) when the pullets were 16 weeks of age. The preparation of SSM had a recommended dose rate of 111 g/200 litres (0.55 g/litre) of drinking water. It was administered at 1 g/litre on days 1, 11 and 16 and at 0.5 g/litre on days 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13 and 20. On the 19th day after the start of the SSM treatment many of the pullets were depressed; 47 died on days 20 and 21. PM examination revealed anaemia, haemorrhages, pale bone marrow and bacteraemia. Histologically the spleen showed lymphoid depletion and some microabscesses, and kidney tubules were dilated. Up to 8 weeks later 90 pullets died with anaemia and symptoms as before. A further 29 pullets died of other diseases during the same period. Care should be taken when administering excessive or prolonged medication even with 'safe' preparations.