Comparative efficacy of doxycycline and flumequine against experimentally induced colibacillosis in broiler chicks

Haji Akbar¹,²*, Murad Khan¹, Ayaz Ali Khan¹, Muhammad Ali Khan¹, Muhammad Shuaib¹, Shamaila Fazal Akbar³, Sobia Manzoor², Irshad-ur-rehman², Shakeel Ahmad1, Liaqat Ali², Rehmana Khalid² and Muhammad Idrees²

¹Department of Biotechnology University of Malakand, Pakistan.

²National Center of Excellence in Molecular Biology, 87-west Canal Bank Road University of The Punjab Lahore.

³Zana Ultra Sound Clinic and Maternity Home, Swat Pakistan.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: biotech_34@yahoo.com. Tel: ++92(334)9301553

Accepted 24 August, 2009.

   Abstract

This study sought to determine comparative efficacy of doxycycline and flumequine for the treatment of colibacillosis, which is an acute septicaemic disease caused by pathogenic Escherichia coli. This disease has illness coming on in the range widely, death rate is relatively high and some are up to more than 30%, have caused the enormous economic losses. The birds were infected intra-peritoneally with approx. 3 × 10⁸ colony forming units per 0.25 ml of Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) and the infection developed within twelve hours. Chickens in group A1 were given doxycycline via the drinking water at a dose of 10 mg/kg body weight for 5 days, while group B1 was treated with flumequine at a dose of 12 mg/kg body weight for 5 days. The trial lasted for 9 days and then the surviving chickens were sacrificed. Doxycycline reduced the number of deaths and the severity of the clinical symptoms. In contrast, flumequine slightly influenced the mortality; however, it delayed death and reduced the severity of clinical symptoms. Present data indicate that doxycycline is highly effective for the treatment of experimental E. coli in chickens. The present study is of great importance for prescribing best effective drug against colibacillosis to avoid getting resistance to antibiotics.