Therapeutic Agents Toxicity in Poultry
By: Muhammad Jameel
To: Dr Qurban Ali Shah
Outline
Introduction
Toxicity of Antimicrobials
• Antibiotics Toxicity
• Antifungal Toxicity
Toxicity of coccidiostats
Toxicity of Disinfectants, Rodenticides
Diagnosis
Treatment Measures
Potential risks of Toxicosis in Poultry
Use of disinfectants
Rodenticides and insecticides on the premises
Medications administered in feed and water
Nutritional additives to the feed
Feed toxicity
Therapeutic index (TI)
It is a comparison of the amount of a therapeutic agent that causes the
therapeutic effect to the amount that causes toxicity.
Effective dose (ED50)
Lethal dose (LD50)
Published avian drug doses are often based on clinical experience from
other species
Suggested dose may or may not optimal
Route of administration
Drinking water, with Feed
Antimicrobial Therapy
To treat infections
Various Bacteria, viruses, fungi , protozoa & chlamydia infect poultry
Goal is to eliminate infecting organism from host
All antimicrobials have the potential to harm poultry
Possible causes of Therapeutic Toxicity:
o Accidental overdose
o Uneven distribution of drug in feed
o Interaction with other drugs
Toxicity & Adverse Effects
o Direct Toxic Effects
Liver & Nephrotoxicity
Varies with compound, dose & physiological status of bird
o Adverse Effects on Alimentary Tract Microflora
Broad spectrum antibiotics reduce/eliminate natural GI tract microflora
o Treatment Failure
Wrong diagnosis, route or agent
o Development of resistance
Sub-therapeutical dose, water-based treatment
Antibiotic Toxicity
Sulfonamides:
Used for treatment of several bacterial and protozoal infections.
High toxic because of low TI, in DW dose usually increased
when fed at 0.25%, results in severe pancytopenia, Hemorrhages on
the legs, breast muscle, virtually all abdominal organs, pale bone
marrow and the blood is slow to clot (vit K deficiency)
Toxicity is frequently seen in hot weather when provided in
drinking water. Water consumption increases rapidly as the
temperature increases, which leads to increased drug intake.
Gentamycin
Nephrotoxicity, ototoxicity, Paralysis
Chloromphenicol
Bone marrow depression, inhibit protein synthesis, anemia
Enroflaxacin
Site irritation ( I/m), GIT upset
Antifungal Toxicity
Common fungal infections like candidiasis, aspergillosis, crpyococcosis
infections in poultry are treated using Nystatin, flucytocin,
amphotericin B antifungals
Accidental overdose cause toxicity
GIT upset, nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity
Coccidiostats
Necropsy Findings
Dehydration
Generalized congestion
Myocardial enlargement
Hydropericardium
Ascites
Egg Peritonitis
Rodenticides
Careless application can result in rodent bait consumption by poultry
with usually acute toxic effects.
Rodenticides, including warfarin, chlorphacinone, bromadialone, and
difenacoum.
Clinical signs in poultry are related to the anticoagulant effects and
usually observed as sudden death with gross hemorrhagic lesions in
one or more body sites, particularly lung, intestine, and peritoneal
cavity.
Hemorrhage, after consuming difenthialone, pheasants
Diazinon:
Diazinon is an organic phosphate used to control a variety of insects
around poultry houses.
It should not be used inside poultry houses.
Chickens will consume the diazinon crystals, which results in
lacrimation, diarrhea, dyspnea, and death.
Necropsy lesions include lung edema, fatty livers, and severe enteritis.
The diazinon crystals might be seen in the crop and gizzard contents.
Copper:
Copper sulfate has been used as a water additive for treatment of crop
mycosis (Candida overgrowth) or nonspecific digestive tract disorders
in poultry.
Copper sulfate in a single dose of >1 g is fatal. The signs are watery
diarrhea and listlessness. A catarrhal gastroenteritis and burns or
erosions in the lining of the gizzard, accompanied by a greenish,
seromucous exudate throughout the intestinal tract, are found at
necropsy.
Sulfur:
Elemental sulfur is often used in broiler houses in an attempt to improve
growth rate and feed conversion and to minimize bacterial disease.
The compound is applied to the floor after the litter has been removed.
For treatment of ectoparasites in adult layers.
If young chicks will come in contact with the sulfur, resulting in conjunctivitis
and cutaneous burns, especially under the wings and on the legs.
Clinically, the birds appear cold and tend to huddle; in many instances, death
will occur due to suffocation.
When sulfur comes into contact with moisture, sulfuric acid is produced,
which results in the burns.
Diagnosis
When toxicosis in a poultry flock is suspected based on mortality, on
decreased production/growth, or on other clinical signs such as
paralysis, the flock owner allow access to historical records.
Records of disinfectants, rodenticides and insecticides on the premises,
medications and nutritional additives to the feed.
Samples to be collected for potential analysis include feed and water.
Treatment Measures:
Remove sources, symptomatic treatment, no specific treatment
Vit K in sulfonamides toxicity
Thank You…
Any Question ?
