Clostridium septicum infection and antibiotic treatment in broiler chickens
Fowler, N.G.; Hussaini, S.N.
Veterinary Record 96(1): 14-15
1975
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 1114625 Document Number: 83057
There have been numerous reports from the USA of a condition known as avian malignant oedema, attributed to Cl. septicum infection, but none from the UK. This communication describes the symptoms and lesions and records that it is frequently preceded by inclusion body hepatitis (IBH). One outbreak involving over 9000 chickens started within a few days of the development of an IBH problem; high doses of penicillin G (benzylpenicillin) and oxytetracycline failed to stop the mortality; Cl. septicum was isolated and shown to be resistant to tetracycline and oxytetracycline and sensitive to ampicillin and benzylpenicillin, although the last-named had failed to control the disease. Oral administration of 6 mg/kg benzylpenicillin to 50 healthy chickens resulted in a detectable blood level in only one bird. As other workers have reported poor absorption of antibiotics from the bowel in poultry, further information on this important question is required.