Poultry antimicrobial treatment guideline for selected bacterial diseases

It is prudent to use those antimicrobial which maximizes therapeutics effects and minimizes antimicrobial resistance. Here prudent use guides for optimal use of antimicrobials. It does not compromise professional judgment and animal health or welfare. Here is a snapshot of the guideline:

Poultry Type	Disease / condition / clinical diagnosis	Antimicrobial options	Remarks
In vivo or day old broiler chick	Omphalitis	Injectable: Gentamycin: In ovo or SC injection 0. 2 mg/per chick as a single dose. Lincomycin-spectinomycin: 2.5–5.0 mg of L/S SC per chick as a single dose(1)	Omphalitis related to a breeder flock or poor shell quality in times of very hot weather, the use of antibiotics in the hatchery is judicious
		With drinking water: Amoxicillin trihydate: Up to 4 weeks of age: 6–12 g in 100L of DW for 3–5 d
5-wk-old chicken	Airsacculitis (Eschericia coli )	With feed: Trimethoprim-sulphadiazine: (active ingredient: each 37.5 g contains 2.5 g trimethoprim and 12.5 g sulphadiazine): 750 ppm (2,3).	Compounded formulations of this antimicrobial cannot be used in poultry. Use only products that are approved for food-producing animals.
		With drinking water: Amoxicillin trihydate: Older than 4 weeks of age: 10–20 g in 100L of DW for 3–5 d Withdrawal time: 2 d
Broiler chicken	Airsaculitis (Eschericia coli)	With feed: Trimethoprim-sulphadiazine: (active ingredient: each 37.5 g contains 2.5 g trimethoprim and 12.5 g sulphadiazine): 500–750 ppm (2,3). Ormetoprim-sulphadimethoxine premix (active ingredient: each kg contains 250 g of sulphadimethoxine and 50 g of ormetoprim): 125 ppm.	Compounded formulations of this antimicrobial cannot be used in poultry. Use only products that are approved for food-producing animals.
		With drinking water: Amoxicillin trihydate: Up to 4 weeks of age:6–12 g in 100L of DW for 3–5 d Older than 4 weeks of age: 10–20 g in 100L of DW for 3–5 d Withdrawal time: 2 d (meat ) Sulfamethazine 25% solution: 35 mL in 9L of DW for 2 d. Sulfaquinoxaline 19.2% solution: 90 mL in 45.4 L of DW for 2 to 3 d Withdrawal time: 12d Tetracycline hydrochloride: (active ingredient: 250mg/g) 100 g per 500 L of DW for 3–5 d. Withdrawal time: 5d (meat) Tetracycline hydrochloride – Neomycin sulphate: 400 g to 450 L of DW. Withdrawal time: 7d (meat)	***The label dosage of tetracycline hydrochloride can differ depending on the manufacturer.
Broiler chicken	Arthritis(Eschericia coli)	With feed: Ormetoprim-sulphadimethoxine premix (active ingredient: each kg contains 250 g of sulphadimethoxine and 50 g of ormetoprim): 125 ppm Trimethoprim-sulphadiazine: (active ingredient: each 37.5 g contains 2.5 g trimethoprim and 12.5 g sulphadiazine): 500 to 750 ppm (2,3).	Compounded formulations of this antimicrobial cannot be used in poultry. Use only products that are approved for food-producing animals.
		With drinking water: Oxytetracycline hydrochloride : (active ingredient: 250mg/g) 100 g per 500 L of DW for 3–5 d. Meat withdrawal of 7 d. Tetracycline hydrochloride: (active ingredient: 250 mg/g) 100 g per 500 L of DW for 3–5 d. Meat withdrawal of 5 d. Amoxicillin trihydrate: Up to 4 weeks of age: 6–12 g in 100 L of DW for 3–5 d Older than 4 weeks of age: 10–20 g in 100 L of DW for 3–5 d Meat withdrawal of 2 d	Oxytetracycline is more poorly absorbed than tetracycline.
Broiler chicken	Arthritis( Staphylococcus aureus )	With feed: Erythromycin thiocyanate: 220 g per tonne of complete feed. Meat withdrawal of 24 h. Ormetoprim-sulphadimethoxine premix (active ingredient: each kg contains 250 g of sulphadimethoxine and 50 g of ormetoprim): 125 ppm
		With drinking water: Tetracycline hydrochloride: (active ingredient: 250 mg/g) 100 g per 500 L of DW for 3–5 d. Meat withdrawal of 5 d. Gallimycin: (active ingredient: 115.6 mg/g) 200 g per 200 L of DW for 5 d. Meat withdrawal of 1 d. Penicillin G potassium: 100 000 000 I.U. per 337 L of DW for 5 d.	The label dosage of tetracycline hydrochloride can differ depending on the manufacturer.
Broiler chicken	Coccidiosis (Eimeria sp.)	With drinking water: Amprolium 9.6% Solution: 500 mL in 200 L of DW for 5 to 7 d. Pyrimethamine-Sulfaquinoxaline: 30 ml in 20 L of DW for 2 d. Meat withdrawal of 4 d.
Broiler chicken	Necrotic enteritis (Clostridium perfringes)	With feed: Tetracycline: 220 ppm Meat withdrawal of 5 d. Bacitracin Methylene Disalicylate (BMD): 200 ppm Tylosin: 200 ppm for 7 d Meat withdrawal of 0 d. Trimethoprim-sulphadiazine: (active ingredient: each 37.5 g contains 2.5 g trimethoprim and 12.5 g sulphadiazine): 500–750 ppm (2,3).
		With drinking water: Lincomycin: 80 g (1 pack) per 2000 L of DW for 7 d. Meat withdrawal of 0 d. Neomycin: (active ingredient: 81.25 mg/g) Up to 2 weeks of age: 100 g per 1,125 L of DW for 3 d, 2 weeks of age to adulthood: 200 g per 1,125L of DW for 3 d, Meat withdrawal of 7 d. Penicillin G potassium: 100 000 000 I.U. per 337 L of DW for 5 d. Note: Penicillin is best given in the water since a longer stay in the proventriculus (i.e., when administered in the feed) speeds up its degradation. Tylosin: 0.4–0.6 g per 4 L of DW for 5 d. Meat withdrawal of 1 d.
Broiler chocken	Omphalitis (Eschericia coli)	Feed: Feed consumption is insufficient to achieve adequate antimicrobial MICs
		With drinking water: Sulfamethazine 25% solution: 35 mL in 9 L of DW for 2 d. Amoxicillin trihydrate: 8–16 mg/kg Up to 4 weeks of age: 6–12 g in 100 L of DW for 3–5 d. Older than 4 weeks of age: 10–20 g in 100 L of DW for 3-5 d. Meat withdrawal of 2 d.	Sulfamethazine 25% will reach the infection site. Sulfamethazine should not be used if chicks have received a live coccidial vaccine.
Broiler breeder	Arthritis (Escherichia coli )	Feed: Ormetoprim-sulphadimethoxine premix (active ingredient: each kg contains 250 g of sulphadimethoxine and 50 g of ormetoprim): 125 ppm Trimethoprim-sulphadiazine: (active ingredient: each 37.5 g contains 2.5 g trimethoprim and 12.5 g sulphadiazine): 500 to 750 ppm (2,3) Lincomycin hydrochloride/ Spectinomycin sulfate premix (active ingredient: each kg contains 22 g lincomycin hydrochloride and 22 g of spectinocycin sulfate): 1 kg of premix per tonne of complete feed (results in 44 g of antibiotic activity per tonne of complete feed).	General Note: Young broiler breeders may require treatment better suited to their skip-a-day diet. Ormetoprim-sulfadimethoxine is a good choice since it is long-acting
		With drinking water: Sulfamethazine 25% solution: 35 mL in 9L of DW for 2 d, then 17.5 mL in 9 L of DW for 5 d Tetracycline hydrochloride: (active ingredient: 250 mg/g) 100 g per 500 L of DW for 3–5 d. Meat withdrawal of 5 d. Lincomycin hydrochloride / Spectinomycin sulphate: 150 g package (100 g active ingredient) per 120 L of DW for 5 to 7 d (4). Meat withdrawal of 3 d. Amoxicillin trihydrate: Up to 4 weeks of age: 6–12 g in 100 L of DW for 3–5 days Older than 4 weeks of age: 10–20 g in 100 L of DW for 3–5 days. Meat withdrawal of 2 d.	The label dosage of tetracycline hydrochloride can differ depending on the manufacturer.
Broiler Breeder	Arthritis(Staphlococcus aureus)	Feed: Erythromycin thiocyanate: 220 g per tonne (1000 kg) of complete feed. Meat withdrawal of 24 h. Ormetoprim-sulphadimethoxine premix (active ingredient: each kg contains 250 g of sulphadimethoxine and 50 g of ormetoprim): 125 ppm Trimethoprim-sulphadiazine: (active ingredient: each 37.5 g contains 2.5 g trimethoprim and 12.5 g sulphadiazine): 500 to 750 ppm (2,3).
		With drinking water: Tetracycline hydrochloride: (active ingredient: 250 mg/g) 100 g per 500 L of DW for 3–5 d. Meat withdrawal of 5 d. Gallimycin: (active ingredient: 115.6 mg/g) 200 g per 200 L of DW for 5 d Meat withdrawal of 1 d. Penicillin G potassium 100 000 000 I.U. per 337 L of DW for 5 d.
Broiler Breeder	Fowl cholera (Pateurella multocida)	Feed: Chlortetracycline: 440-660 ppm. Meat withdrawal of 7 d. Tetracycline: 440 ppm. Meat withdrawal of 5 d. Ormetoprim-sulphadimethoxine premix (active ingredient: each kg contains 250 g of sulphadimethoxine and 50 g of ormetoprim): 125 ppm Trimethoprim-sulphadiazine: (active ingredient: each 37.5 g contains 2.5 g trimethoprim and 12.5 g sulphadiazine): 500 to 750 ppm (2,3). Tilmicosin premix: (active ingredient: each kg contains 200 g tilmicosin phosphate): 200 ppm for 5 d (5,6).
		With drinking water: Florfenicol: 30 mg/kg Tetracycline hydrochloride: (active ingredient: 250 mg/g) 100 g per 500 L of DW for 3–5 d: Meat withdrawal of 5 d. Penicillin G potassium: 100 000 000 I.U. per 337 L of DW for 5 d.
Layer	Mycoplasmosis (Mycoplasma synovie)	Feed: Chlortetracycline: Do not exceed 110 ppm in laying hens (7,8). Meat withdrawal of 7 d. Tylosin: 100 ppm (9)
		With drinking water: Tylosin: 2 g per 4 L of DW for 3 d (9).
Layer	Peritonitis (Eschericia coli)	Feed: Oxytetracycline: Up to 200 ppm there is no egg withdrawal period. Meat withdrawal 7 d. Tylosin: 100 ppm for 7 d (9).
		With drinking water: Oxytetracycline hydrochloride: (active ingredient: 250 mg/g) 100 g per 500 L of DW for 3–5 d. Tetracycline hydrochloride: (active ingredient: 250 mg/g) 100 g per 500 L of DW for 3–5 days: Tylosin: 2 g per 4 L of DW for 3 d (9).	The label dosage of tetracycline hydrochloride can differ depending on the manufacturer.

References:

1.       Hamdy AH, Kratzer DD, Paxton LM, Roberts BJ. Effect of a single injection of lincomycin, spectinomycin, and linco-spectin on early chick mortality caused by Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Avian Dis 1979; 23:164–173.

2.       Baert K, De Baere S, Croubels S, De Backer P. Pharma­cokinetics and oral bioavailability of sulfadiazine and trimethoprim in broiler chickens. Vet. Res. Commun 2003; 27:301–309.

3.       Goren E, de Jong WA, Doornenbal P. Some pharmacokinetic aspects of four sulphonamides and trimethoprim, and their therapeutic efficacy in experimental Escherichia coli infection in poultry. Vet Q 1984; 6:134–140.

4.       Goren E, de Jong WA, Doornenbal P. Therapeutic efficacy of medicating drinking water with spectinomycin and lincomycin-spectinomycin in experimental Escherichia coli infection in poultry. Vet Q 1988; 10:191–197.

5.       Abu-Basha EA, Idkaidek NM, Al-Shunnaq AF. Pharma­cokinetics of tilmicosin (Provitil powder and Pulmotil liquid AC) oral formulations in chickens. Vet Res Commun 2007; 31:477–485.

6.       Fricke JA, Clark CR, Boison JO, et al. Pharmacokinetics and tissue depletion of tilmicosin in turkeys. J Vet Pharmacol. Therap. (accepted for publication).

7.       Kennedy DG, McCracken RJ, Hewitt SA, McEvoy JD. Metabolism of chlortetracycline: drug accumulation and excretion in the hen’s egg. Analyst 1998; 123: 2443–2447.

8.       Roudaut B, Moretain JP, Boisseau J. Excretion of tetracycline and chlortetracycline in eggs after oral medication of laying hens. Food Addit Contam 1989; 6:71-78.

9.      Hamscher G, Limsuwan S, Tansakul N, Kietzmann M. Quantitative analysis of tylosin in eggs by high performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry: Residue depletion kinetics after administration via feed and drinking water in laying hens. J Agric Food Chem 2006; 54:9017–9023.