PHARMACODYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF ENROFLOXACIN RESISTANCE IN BROILER APEC: A TARGETED REVIEW OF VALIDATED NON-ANTIBIOTIC CONTROL STRATEGIES

Abstract

Avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) is the causative agent of colibacillosis, which can cause systemic and localized infections in poultry; however, multiple serotypes contribute to the development of colibacillosis disease.  Enrofloxacin is used as a therapeutic agent to kill APEC; moreover, enrofloxacin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that can be administered orally, intramuscularly, and subcutaneously. The pharmacokinetics-pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) parameters can play an important role in determining its efficacy, and the performance of the broilers; however, killing of bacteria also depends upon the dose concentration of enrofloxacin. Multiple challenges are associated with enrofloxacin, such as resistance issues, which can be due to misuse and administration of the drug via drinking behaviour and drug residue in the edible part of the chicken; however, its misuse leads to mutation in the genes of DNA gyrase and Topo IV, increasing the potential for resistance. Due to emerging resistance, alternative approaches such as nanoparticles, synbiotic combinations, phytochemicals, and essential oils can be used that may reduce bacterial growth and thus decrease the dependence on enrofloxacin.  However, this review focuses on the role of enrofloxacin, its PK/PD model, the accelerating resistance, and emerging non-antibiotic control.