Background: This study used a focused approach to investigate the efficacy of oral administration of ampicillin and dimetridazole (DMZ) either alone or in combination for the treatment of necrotic enteritis (NE) caused by Clostridium perfringens (CP) infection in broiler chickens.
Methods: One hundred Cobb-mixed chicks were used and divided into five groups (A, B, C, D and E, each of 20 bird). At 15th day of age, birds in all groups (except group A) were inoculated orally with 0.5 mL of Cp broth culture (109 CFU/mL). Two days later, drugs were orally administered once daily for five consecutive days as follow; Group A and B were left untreated. Group C and D were treated with therapeutic dose of ampicillin (20 mg/ kg b.wt) and DMZ (20 mg/ kg b.wt) respectively, while group E was treated with both ampicillin and DMZ. The efficacy of used drugs was estimated based on clinical symptoms, body weight, weight gain, feed conversion rate, and scores of intestinal lesions.
Results: Efficacy results indicated that all used medications showed significant increases in body weight, food conversion rate, red blood cell count, and hemoglobin concentration associated with significant decrease in leukocyte. In addition, intestinal lesions (necrosis and fusion of intestinal villi) were improved which indicate recovery. The three drugs were effective but with different degrees. However, the combination of ampicillin and DMZ was superior.
Conclusion: The combination of ampicillin and DMZ was of considerable value in control of NE in broiler chickens than using them separately.