The Influence of Different Doses of Oxytetracycline on Some Hematological Parameters in Broilers

Background: Antibiotic use as curative, preventive and as growth promoter is often common practice in broiler farming. The problem of residues in the products obtained, often sparked debates among farmers who recognize the benefits of antibiotics and consumers who fear risks of using such products. This research focuses on evaluating the effects of an oxytetracycline product overdose on hematological parameters of broilers in correlation with symptomatic manifestation.Materials and methods: Two experimental broiler groups (n = 11) were subjected to treatment 8 and 16 X therapeutic dose over a period of 3 days and a control group (n = 12) were kept in identical conditions for housing and feeding. Blood samples were collected from the birds 12 hours after the last administration (post-treatment) in case of the experimental groups respectively at the end of the experiment from the control and the usual hematological parameters were determined. The recorded data was statistically processed and interpreted.Results: Individual data revealed more or less important oscillations in the investigated parameters. Statistical analysis showed no significant changes except for hemoglobin (p = 0.0038) and MCHC (p = 0.0025) respectively the total number of leukocytes (p = 0.0022) and lymphocyte subpopulation (p = 0.0440).Conclusions: Investigations undertaken to assess the effects of overdose with oxytetracycline based product showed significant changes in hemoglobin concentration and MCHC respectively. The total number of leukocytes and lymphocyte subpopulation level, the changes found mainly in the group treated with the highest dose can be attributed to a possible drug imunosupression.