The Role of Penicillin G Potassium in Managing Clostridium perfringens in Broiler Chickens

Abstract

The efficacy of penicillin G potassium (Pot-Pen) administered via drinking water to manage necrotic enteritis (NE) was investigated in a Clostridium perfringens (CP) challenge study using 1600 broiler chickens assigned to one of four treatment groups: nonchallenged, nonmedicated; challenged, nonmedicated; challenged, Pot-Pen 0.2 g/L; challenged, Pot-Pen 0.4 g/L. Overall mortality due to NE was significantly reduced among Pot-Pen-treated pens; mortality due to other causes did not differ among the treatment groups. Among all birds, growth performance parameters were significantly improved among Pot-Pen-treated pens. When considering birds randomly sacrificed 4 days post-Pot-Pen initiation, mean NE lesion scores were greatest among the challenged, nonmedicated pens; only one of 80 randomly sacrificed birds treated with Pot-Pen had NE lesions. Among the nonmedicated control pens, body weight (BW) was significantly greater among birds that did not have NE-associated lesions. When sacrificed birds were stratified by NE lesion score, there were no significant differences in BW among the treatment groups. Results of this study suggest that CP-associated subclinical disease can significantly reduce broiler performance. Furthermore, the positive effects of treatment with Pot-Pen appeared to be associated with the prevention and/or treatment of NE-specific lesions.

The use of antimicrobial agents in broiler chickens

“…The commonest penicillin used in poultry production is penicillin G, which is especially important for treating clostridial infections causing necrotic enteritis (Gadbois et al, 2008), and pasteurellosis or fowl cholera (Huang et al, 2009;Sellyei et al, 2009); the broader spectrum penicillins, amoxicillin and ampicillin (combined or not with clavulanic acid) are effective for Gram-negative infections such as Escherichia coli air sacculitis.…”

Effects of therapeutic levels of dietary antibiotics on the cecal microbiome composition of broiler chickens

“…Antimicrobial growth promoters ( AGPs ) have been used widely as feed additives to improve livestock health and productivity ( Dibner and Richards, 2005 ). In addition to their health benefits, inclusion of subtherapeutic levels of antibiotics in poultry feed has been shown to enhance feed efficiency and growth performance and to reduce the levels of enteric bacterial pathogens, including Clostridium perfringens ( Gadbois et al., 2008 ; Neumann and Suen 2015 ). However, due to public health concerns about the impact of antibiotic residues on human health and the potential emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, many countries have taken steps to mitigate these risks by phasing out the use of certain antibiotics in poultry feed ( United States Food and Drug Administration 2012 ; Agunos et al., 2019 ).…”

“…Classical AGPs including bacitracin methylene disalicylate ( BMD ) and ionophores such as salinomycin ( SA ) are commonly used in poultry production to prevent or control infectious diseases caused by Gram-positive bacteria, particularly C. perfringens -induced NE ( Johansen et al., 2007 ). Administration of penicillin G potassium (Pot-Pen, PP ) has also been shown to reduce the incidence of NE in broiler chickens, in addition to its non-specific growth-promoting effect ( Gadbois et al., 2008 ). When subtherapeutic doses are supplemented in diet, these antibiotics exert their effects either directly through inhibition of bacterial cell wall synthesis or disintegration of the cell membrane of Gram-positive bacteria and/or indirectly through inducing significant alterations in the gut mucosal immunity and microbiome composition ( Broom, 2017 ).…”

In Vitro Selective Growth-Inhibitory Effect of 8-Hydroxyquinoline on Clostridium perfringens versus Bifidobacteria in a Medium Containing Chicken Ileal Digesta

“…It commonly manifests as a subclinical infection [1,2]. In addition, NetB toxin production, dietary factors, Eimeria co-infection, and stress are believed to be crucial factors influencing the development of NE [2].…”

“…Until now, NE has usually been controlled using various conventional antibiotics such as bacitracin and penicillin [1,4,5]. However, their use is well known to result in the development of antibiotic resistance.…”