To treat resistant Escherichia coli infection in chicks, Ampicillin was stabilized with a synthetic aluminum-magnesium silicate (AMS) to prolong its bioavailability. Its dose was also reduced to minimize adverse side effects. Vitamins A, C, E and Selenium levels in the chicks' feeds were increased to enhance immune response of the chicks. E. coli coloning forming units, per ml of bile of the chicks, treated with Ampicillin and with Ampicillin in AMS, were: 228800.00 ± 90103.50 and 134500.00 ± 44937.97 at 10 mg/kg, 104400.00 ± 36024.44 and 34800.00 ± 8014.97 at 7.5 mg/kg, 198400.00 ± 129301.80 and 156800.00 ± 109392.70 at 5 mg/kg. Mean bacterial loads of the untreated groups, fed normal feed and those fed the fortified feed were 824400.00 ± 322424.80 and 534800.00 ± 277832.80. At 7.5 mg/kg. Ampicillin in the AMS, effectively (P < 0.05) treated resistant E. coli infection in chicks, fed immunestimulants, with the infection rate reduced by 95.8%.
To determine passive haemagglutination (PHA) antibody titer that would protect chicks against Nigerian isolates of the Infectious Bursa Disease Virus (IBDV), five groups of chicks aged 30 days which had different antibody titers were challenged with a Nigerian isolate of virulent IBDV. Mortality rates of the different groups were plotted against their respective mean PHA antibody titers. A group with zero antibody titer had a mortality rate of 75% while those with PHA antibody titers of 185.6, 243.2, 256 and 307.2 had mortality rates of 40%, zero, zero and zero respectively. Linear equation generated for a line of best fit of the graph of mortality rates of the chicks on their IBD antibody titers gave antibody titer (X) at which mortality (Y) would be zero as 300. A mortality of 75% and the high antibody level needed to protect chicks suggest that the isolate may be a hypervirulent strain.
Methodology: Poultry cases reported to the clinics were investigated. Date, age, address, flock size, morbidity rate, mortality rate, breed, species, type of birds, vaccination history were noted; post mortem and agar gel precipitation test were done on 10 flocks, the incidence rate, morbidity rate, mortality rate and organ (bursa, spleen and thymus) to body weight ratio of the 10 flocks were calculated. Results: Chicks in all the flocks revealed the clinicopathologic manisfestation of IBD which include depressions, somnolence, anorexia, ruffled feathers, trembling, postration followed by death. In all the flocks, the BF were either turgid, swollen and or
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