Salinomycin Toxicity in Chickens: Biochemical Changes and Treatment with Hypertonic Dextrose

Salinomycin is a monocarboxylic polyether antibiotic with antimicrobial properties. It is used as a coccidiostat in chickens and a growth promoter in ruminants. Although it has proved to be safe at therapeutic doses, a toxic effect can result from overdosage or misuse. Thus, changes in biochemical parameters (AST, ALT and CK) were examined and the effect of hypertonic (50%) dextrose against experimental toxicosis with salinomycin was evaluated in broiler chickens (male and female) and laying hens in this study. Male and female broilers and laying hens each were divided into 6 groups (n=9). Except for group 1, all birds were intoxicated with oral administration of salinomycin (85 mg kg-1). Group 2 received intravenous saline (1 ml kg-1) 1 hour after poisoning. Hypertonic dextrose (1 or 2 ml kg-1, either single or double doses) was similarly injected into the wing vein of the chickens in groups 3 to 6. The number of deaths after salinomycin poisoning was recorded for each group. Blood samples were collected from the wing vein on days 0, 3, 7 and 14. Results indicate that mortalities decreased in those groups receiving dextrose solution, particularly in group 6, compared to the mortality in group 2. In male and female broilers, hypertonic dextrose decreased the mortalities up to 22%, but about 44% in laying hens. AST, ALT and CK levels in serum increased in those groups intoxicated with salinomycin, however, after the administration of dextrose the situation was reversed and the levels of enzymes in the serum mostly decreased in various groups. It is generally concluded that the administration of hypertonic dextrose is partially useful in the treatment of salinomycin toxicosis in the chicken. The mechanism by which dextrose exerts this effect should be investigated in future studies