Pilot study on the efficacy of paromomycin as a histomonostatic feed additive in turkey poults experimentally infected withHistomonas meleagridis

Abstract

Paromomycin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic with activity against protozoa. Currently, paromomycin is registered for food producing animal species. In a pilot study we evaluated the efficacy of different doses of paromomycin in the feed against Histomonas meleagridis in experimentally challenged turkey poults. Groups consisting of 30 birds each were given feed with 100, 200 and 400 ppm paromomycin, respectively, starting on day 1 through to day 42. One group of 30 birds was left untreated. On day 21 all birds were infected intracloacally with H. meleagridis. Additionally, 10 birds were kept as a non-infected and non-treated control group. Before the challenge there was no significant difference between untreated and treated groups with regards to feed consumption and feed conversion rate. After the challenge, mortality was 80% in the infected nontreated birds. In the treated groups the mortality rate was 73.3%, 43.3% and 20%, respectively. No histomonal DNA was found in caeca and livers of the surviving birds. In addition, higher doses of paromomycin (200 and 400 ppm) led to reduced counts of Clostridium perfringens in the droppings. In conclusion, a prophylactic application of paromomycin as a feed additive was effective against the challenge with H. meleagridis under experimental conditions.

Effect of in-feed paromomycin supplementation on antimicrobial resistance of enteric bacteria in turkeys

“…Histomoniasis in turkeys can be prevented by in-feed administration of paromomycin sulfate, an aminoglycoside antimicrobial agent (Lindquist, 1962;Bleyen et al, 2009;Hafez et al, 2010;van der Heijden et al, 2011). Maximum residue limits have been established according to the requirements of EC Council Regulation (EEC) 2377/90.…”

Antihistomonal effects of artemisinin andArtemisia annuaextractsin vitrocould not be confirmed byin vivoexperiments in turkeys and chickens

“…Several in vitro and in vivo experimental studies on chemotherapeutics have shown variable outcomes in finding a new and efficient therapy against H. meleagridis infections (Hu & McDougald, 2002;Hafez & Hauck, 2006;Bleyen et al, 2009;Hafez et al, 2010;Hauck et al, 2010b). Within recent years a trend towards non-chemotherapeutic alternative means has been set in the combat of histomonosis.…”

Quantification of parasite shedding and horizontal transmission parameters inHistomonas meleagridis-infected turkeys determined by real-time quantitative PCR

“…This stresses the need for new intervention strategies. Although in-feed paromomycin proved to be highly effective for the prevention of histomonosis (Bleyen et al, 2009;Hafez et al, 2010;van der Heijden et al, 2011), its registration may be difficult due to increasing concerns of consumers, scientists and legislators about (long-term) antibiotic usage and the development of resistance and its transfer to humans. Consequently, the quest for new intervention strategies has been focused on herbal products and probiotics due to a renewed interest in natural and herbal medicine.…”