Antimicrobials in poultry
Antimicrobial agents are essential tools for treating and controlling bacterial infections in poultry production. Veterinarians have a huge responsibility when using antimicrobials in poultry producing meat and eggs for human consumption. The term ‘judicious use’ of antimicrobials implies the optimal selection of drug, dose and duration of antimicrobial treatment, along with a reduction in inappropriate and excessive use as a means of slowing the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. The proper use of antimicrobials depends on the knowledge of interrelationships between bacteria, antimicrobial, host and consumer. The antimicrobial groups most commonly used in poultry are the betalactams, polypeptides, aminoglycosides and aminocyclitols, macrolides and lincosamides, florfenicol, tetracyclines, sulphonamides, quinolones and fluoroquinolones and ionophores.
Introduction Following recent reviews on the setting and the meeting of standards for the efficient replacement of pronutrient antibiotics in pig and poultry nutrition (Rosen, 2003b; 2003c), this review concentrates attention on ways and means of improving and optimizing the use of pronutrient antibiotics in broiler and turkey feeds, with particular reference to the multiplicity of proffered candidates and to the multiplexity and interactivity of influential genetic,...
Introduction Antibiotics have been used in the poultry industry for the past 40 years to improve growth performance of birds. They are fed during the grow-out period to prevent infection by pathogens, maintain health and improve meat quality and wholesomeness. However, antibiotics have come under increasing scrutiny by scientists, consumers and government regulators alike because of the potential development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (including pathogenic strains) after...
The intensive livestock production and the spreading of high productivity genetic stocks, have conditioned the common use of chemical substances known as “growth promoters”.
This kind of molecules are added at low rate to animal feed without changing considerably its composition. They speed up the growth and consequently increase the body size and weight rate. In order to be effective, growth promoters must keep their integrity during digestion process and must not be absorbed to perform...
