Comparative Efficacy of Norfloxacin, Clarithromycin and Cefpodoxime against Experimentally Induced Colibacillosis in Pigeons

Avian colibacillosis has been found to be a major infectious disease of all ages of birds. The study was conducted to check the efficacy of three antibiotics both in vitro and in vivo in pigeon birds. Total 30 pigeons of both sexes were randomly divided into 5 groups. One group was kept as un-infected control. The rest of the groups were inoculated with E. coli orally (3×10 8 CFU/0.25 ml). All the infected birds were examined for the development of clinical symptoms. One group was kept as infected, un-medicated control. One group was medicated with Norfloxacin, other with Clarithromycin and third one with Cefpodoxime at the dose rate of 10mg/kg b.wt respectively. Before infection, during infection, during medication and in post medication period, blood samples were collected for analysis of hematological parameters. At the end of the experiment, all the birds were slaughtered to check the gross pathological lesions. Blood profile was in normal range in un-infected control group. There was alteration in blood picture in the group having infections. In the group medicated with norfloxacin, blood cellular levels were in reference range as compared to clarithromycin and cefpodoxime. The gross pathological lesions were also severe in norfloxacin medicated group as compared to the others. The results showed that norfloxacin was highly effective against E. coli than clarithromycin and cefpodoxime. Moreover, the serum concentrations of these antibiotics were checked in pigeon birds. The results showed a maximum serum level (Cmax) of 7μg/ml for norfloxacin after 180 min(Tmax) of its administration. The maximum serum levels of clarithromycin and cefpodoxime were less than norfloxacin and also having long Tmax. It has been concluded that for game birds, for colibacillosiss, norfloxacin is the drug of choice.