The effect of josamycine on the control of ileitis in weaned piglets under field conditions

The effect of josamycine on the control of ileitis in weaned piglets under field conditions.J. vet Pharmacol. Therap.25,279–284.The aim of this trial was to evaluate the effect of in‐feed josamycine on the control of ileitis in weaned piglets. On a farm with a previous history of ileitis outbreaks, 288 piglets at weaning age (25 ± 2 days old) were allocated into three experimental groups, each group comprising of four pens with 24 piglets in each pen. Group one (T1) served the trial as negative control group (unmedicated), group T2 was administered josamycine at 36 mg/kg of feed and group T3 was administered josamycine at 50 mg/kg of feed. Treatments lasted for 14 days followed by an observation period of 28 days. Administration of josamycine at both inclusion levels tested had a beneficial effect compared with the negative control group, by the reduction of prevalence of diarrhoea, the enhancement of growth performance and the reduction of prevalence ofLawsonia intracellularisin the intestine, as determined either by the PCR method or by specific histopathological examinations. The beneficial effect of josamycine was more pronounced at the inclusion level of 50 mg/kg of feed.