EFFICACY OF DIFLOXACIN IN GROWING BROILER-CHICKENS FOR THE CONTROL OFINFECTION DUE TO PATHOGENIC MYCOPLASMA-GALLISEPTICUM

Chickens 14 days old were experimentally inoculated with Mycoplasma ga llisepticum (MG) R-P10 strain. After development of respiratory sympto ms, birds were left unmedicated or medicated for 5 consecutive days wi th Difloxacin 5, 7.5 or 10 mg/kg body weight per day or Enrofloxacin a t the dose level oi 10 mg/kg body weight per day. Evaluatiun of effica cy was based on body weight, symptoms, post-mortem findings, re-isolat ion of MG and serology. Results indicated chat under the conditions of this experiment, treatment with 7.5mg Difloxacin per kg body weight f or 5 days was already effective against pathogenic MG infection. The d ose of 10 mg/kg Difloxacin was equally effective as a dose of 10 mg/kg Enrofloxacin in treating respiratory symptoms.