The effect of flavophospholipol (Flavomycin (R)) and salinomycin sodium (Sacox (R)) on the excretion of Clostridium perfringens, Salmonella enteritidis, sand Campylobacter jejuni in broilers after experimental infection

Intestinal colonization and shedding of pathogenic bacteria in animal feces is an important factor in both human food safety and animal health. The ef fect of broiler feed additives flavophospholipol (FPL; Flavomycin(R), bambe rmycins) and salinomycin sodium (SAL; Sacox(R)) given singly on the excreti on of Salmonella enteritidis, Campylobacter jejuni, and Clostridium perfrin gens was studied following controlled infection. The incidence of shedding (number of birds with positive fecal cultures) and the degree of shedding ( cfu per gram of feces in positive birds) were measured to determine the inf luence of these two common feed additive antibiotics on shedding rates of p otential pathogens. A total of 216 Ross broiler chickens, housed in battery cages, were fed eit her an unmedicated feed (controls), feed containing FPL, or feed containing SAL. Feed treatment groups were subdivided into three bacterial challenge groups of 24 chicks, each receiving only one of the pathogens. Bacterial ch allenge was administered orally on Days 11 and 12 for Salmonella and Campyl obacter and on Days 2 and 3 for Clostridium. Fecal samples were collected w eekly up to 6 wk of age and cultured for presence of the target organism. T he shedding rate was determined by decimal dilutions of the fecal samples. Feeding FPL resulted in a reduced (P less than or equal to 0.05) degree and incidence of Salmonella and Clostridium shedding at 6 wk. Feeding SAL redu ced (P less than or equal to 0.05) the incidence of Salmonella shedding at 6 wk. Neither feed additive affected the incidence nor the degree of Campyl obacter shedding. The results of this study indicate that these feed additi ves may reduce the incidence of these potential human and animal pathogens in preslaughter broilers.