Abstract
The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the efficacy of antibiotics to prevent or control colibacillosis in broilers. Studies found eligible were conducted controlled trials in broilers that evaluated an antibiotic intervention, with at least one of the following outcomes: mortality, feed conversion ratio (FCR), condemnations at slaughter, or total antibiotic use. Four electronic databases plus the gray literature were searched. Abstracts were screened for eligibility and data were extracted from eligible trials. Risk of bias was evaluated.Seven trials reported eligible outcomes in a format that allowed data extraction; all reported results for FCR and one also reported mortality. Due to the heterogeneity in the interventions and outcomes evaluated, it was not feasible to conduct meta-analysis.Qualitatively, for FCR, comparisons between an antibiotic and an alternative product did not show a significant benefit for either. Some of the comparisons between an antibiotic and a no-treatment placebo showed a numerical benefit to antibiotics, but with wide confidence intervals. The risk-of-bias assessment revealed concerns with reporting of key trial features.The results of this review do not provide compelling evidence for or against the efficacy of antibiotics for the control of colibacillosis.
Highlights
Escherichia coli (E. coli) are a diverse group of bacteria that are a normal part of poultry microflora
Those that are capable of causing disease in birds, or cause disease when host defenses have been impaired, are referred to as avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) (Dziva and Stevens, 2008)
Our objective was to conduct a systematic review and a network meta-analysis, if supported by the data, to address the following review question: ‘What is the efficacy of antibiotics to prevent or control colibacillosis in broiler chickens?’
Summary
RationaleEscherichia coli (E. coli) are a diverse group of bacteria that are a normal part of poultry microflora. Most strains of E. coli are not detrimental to bird health, some are capable of causing disease outside of the intestinal tract. Those that are capable of causing disease in birds, or cause disease when host defenses have been impaired, are referred to as avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) (Dziva and Stevens, 2008). Syndromes of APEC-associated disease include colisepticemia, hemorrhagic septicemia, coligranuloma (Hjarre’s disease), airsacculitis (chronic respiratory disease, CRD), swollen head syndrome, polyserositis, enteritis, venereal colibacillosis, coliform cellulitis (inflammatory or infectious process, IP), peritonitis, salpingitis, orchitis, osteomyelitis/synovitis (including turkey osteomyelitis complex), panophthalmitis, and omphalitis/yolk sac infection (Barnes et al, 2008; Nolan et al, 2013; Guabiraba and Schouler, 2015). Colibacillosis can develop as a primary infection, or as a secondary infection alongside other viral or bacterial pathogens (Nolan et al, 2013)
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