Anticoccidial Activity of Salinomycin in Battery Raised Broiler Chickens

Abstract

Infections with single species of Eimeria acervulina, E. mivati, E. maxima, E. tenella, E. necatrix, and E. brunetti, and the six species mixed, were utilized in three separate battery experiments to evaluate the anticoccidial efficacy of various levels of salinomycin (AHR-3096), a fermentation product of a strain of Streptomyces albus. At the 60 to 100 p.p.m. treatment levels, this compound showed significant anticoccidial activity for all parameters studied (mortality, weight gain, feed conversion, dropping scores, and lesion scores). The mortality due to coccidiosis was reduced to 0.1% in the medicated infected birds. Some activity, as measured by weight gain, was seen in the lower levels of salinomycin medication (12.5 to 50 p.p.m.), but other parameters, including mortality and lesion scores, indicated less activity than that seen with the higher treatment levels. At 100 p.p.m., there was no apparent effect on the compound on bird performance in uninfected control birds. Salinomycin at the 100 p.p.m. treatment level was statistically as effective as 121 p.p.m. monensin (reference anticoccidial) in controlling coccidiosis.

Salinomycin inhibits Wnt signaling and selectively induces apoptosis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells

“…Salinomycin is a monocarboxylic polyether antibiotic widely used as an anticoccidiosis agent in chickens (13,14). A recent study showed that salinomycin kills breast cancer stem cells at least 100 times more effectively than paclitaxel in mice (15).…”

Inhibition of the autophagic flux by salinomycin in breast cancer stem-like/progenitor cells interferes with their maintenance

“…Sal is a monocarboxylic polyether antibiotic already used as an antibacterial and anticoccidiosis drug. 12,13 Sal acts as an ionophore, 14 and promotes the transfer of cations across biological membranes via an exchange diffusion mechanism. As a result of this cation exchange, transmembrane gradients are altered, which in turn leads to changes in cell function and metabolism.…”

Salinomycin in cancer: A new mission for an old agent

“…Salinomycin has been shown to exhibit antimicrobial activity against gram-positive bacteria including mycobacteria and Staphylococcus aureus, some filamentous fungi, Plasmodium falciparum, and Eimeria spp., protozoan parasites responsible for the poultry disease coccidiosis (1,6,7). Therefore, salinomycin has been used for more than 30 years as an effective anticoccidial drug in poultry (8) and is also fed to ruminants and pigs to improve nutrient absorption and feed efficiency (9)(10)(11).…”