Influence of The Anticoccidial Semduramicin on The Immunological Response To Newcastle Vaccine In Chickens

Semduramicin is a mono glycoside polyether ionophorous antibioticproduced by a strain of Actinomadura roseorufa. The drug has a broadspectrum anticoccidial activity against the major species of Eimeriaaffecting chickens when added to the feed at a level of 25 ppm.Semduramicin is routinely used in poultry farms from the first day of agethrough the 8th week of age mixed with the ration for controllingcoccidiosis.The present investigation was designed to explore the possibleeffects of semduramicin on the immune response of chickens vaccinatedwith Newcastle disease virus vaccine.Two hundreds, one day old, Hubbard broiler chicks were dividedinto four equal groups. The first and second groups were givensemduramicin in the recommended dose (25 ppm) and double therecommended dose (50 ppm) respectively for eight successive weeks. Thethird group was left as control. In the 4th week of age, all birds in theprevious groups were vaccinated with La Sota strain of Newcastledisease virus vaccine via eye DROP instillation. The birds in the fourthgroup remained untreated and unvaccinated and served as control.