Quinolone Arthropathy in Broiler Chicken Administered with Enrofloxacin

Abstract

Arthropathic potential of enrofloxacin was investigated in broiler chicken at recommended therapeutic dose. Day old broiler chicks were randomly divided into 4 groups each comprising 6 birds. Group I, control birds received non medicated water, while group II, III, IV and V were medicated with enrofloxacin at recommended therapeutic dose 10mg/Kg body weight in drinking water for 5 successive days from 43rd to 47th day of age. Juvenile cartilages were collected on 1, 3, 5 and 9 days after the last dose from respective treatment groups and subjected to histopathological examination. Degeneration of chondrocytes was noticed in day 1 post treatment group and shrunken chondrocytes with pyknotic nuclei were observed till 5^th day post treatment. However, clumping of chondrocytes observed on day 5 post treatment and a few cases of degenerated chondrocytes on day 9 post treatment around the blood vessels, suggestive of reversal in chondrocyte lesions.