Antibiotics and eating eggs

[ChooksinIowa]

So I have a few chickens with mild respiratory symptoms - wheezing and some nasal discharge. I would like to isolate them and administer antibiotics. I don't usually use antibiotics but when they are sick, I make exceptions.

I have terramycin soluble and LA200 injectable. I'm trying to figure out whether I can use the terramycin soluble first and see how they do. Previously I had a chicken with this problem and I took it to the vet and he gave me streptomycin liquid for oral dosing and the chicken was well in a few days. I can't find streptomycin from my usual online poultry suppliers so I thought I might try the terramycin.

So, I guess I have 3 questions:
1. Does anyone know if soluble terramycin is appropriate for respiratory illness in chickens?
2. Is the dosage 2 teaspoons per gallon?
3. Everything I read says don't give it to chickens who lay eggs for human consumption. All my chickens lay eggs for human consumption. Is there a time period, such as 3 weeks, or a month, after which the antibiotic is gone from the system, or is it saying if I use the antibiotic I can never eat eggs from that hen ever again? I am sure it's not saying that, but nowhere can I find a "safe" period after which one can eat eggs again.

Thanks for any help,
Claire

 

[dawg53]

Recommended by my neighbor who has over 100 chickens himself and has had chickens for 55 years or so. All of his are show chickens though, if that makes a difference. Mine are not. That's what he says he does and has success.
I am a rookie so I just took his advice.

Yes, it tells me a lot. It tells me that his birds have respiratory disease(s.) That's what gallimycin and tylan are used for. It also tells me that his show birds were probably infected at bird shows and if he continues showing his sick birds, his birds will be spreading the disease(s) to other peoples birds.
That would be a complete disregard of practicing biosecurity; morally and ethically wrong showing carrier birds that will infect other birds.
I recommend that you cull your sick birds and bury them deep, away from your coop, or incinerate them. Use oxine to disinfect waterers and feeders, spray your coop with oxine and wait several months before repopulating. I recommend that you order chicks from a reputable hatchery and start anew in several months.

 

[MWard]

For those asking why withholding matters. My understanding (and I am not a vet, but this is based on years in the dairy field, milking, etc.), is that withholding times are established for reasons of human sensitivity and exposure to antibiotics, etc., to maintain their effectiveness.

In short - withholding is called for so as to avoid an allergic reaction, esp if you are selling eggs, etc. because you never know who has an allergy or sensitivity that might be consuming them. If you are not allergic to the drug, I guess it would be up to you if you chance it. We don't (chance it), but that's the reason behind it.

The other reason would be to not be exposing yourself or the public to unnecessary drugs so that we do not create "superbugs" that are resistant to those drugs when we really need them for something important. ...The same reason we don't just take penicillin every time we are feeling logy.

Keep in mind that if you do eat an egg from a treated chicken, it is not as if you are consuming the dosage directly. The drug has been metabolized by the chicken, and only some small residue will even pass into the food product (which according to the above charts as I read them is very negligible anyway).

So what you do with that info is your own...these are just the reasons that we have withholdings. It is interesting to note also that the tetracyclines I have list NO withholding time for slaughter of chickens...typically the withholding for meat consumption is much longer (a month or more) on drugs than the withholding for the food product. My read on that (and again it is my own - make your own decision!) is that drug companies are erring on the side of caution, and/or are regulated to do so. I doubt in the real world it's that much of a threat unless you are allergic.

 

[Barnyard]

Quote:
You can use the terramycin first and see what that does. I personal use Terramycin for everything and it usually does pretty good. There are alote of people on here who do not like it though.
So I would try it myself and see what it does.


I have been told 1 tablespoon to 1 gallon of water for 10 to 14 day's. I have also been told 2 teaspoons per 1 gallon of water. I personally use the 2 teaspoons per 1 gallon of water.


Normally you would wait 2 weeks before you starting eating the eggs again after antibiotics. If you choose to do that you can cook them and feed them back to the chickens. IMHO, I do not see why you can not still eat them. I have, and nothing Ill has come of it.

 

[computerdrx]

i found this at fda website (http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary...lDrugProducts/FOIADrugSummaries/ucm064719.htm )
zero withdrawl period also u can use on laying hens
i used auremycin medicated crumbles 4gm 5lb bag worked great

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

NADA 048-761
Sponsor: Roche Vitamins, Inc.
Parsippany, NJ 07054
Generic Name: Chlortetracycline Pre-mix
Trade Name: Aureomycin; Type A Medicated Article
Marketing Status: Over the Counter (OTC)
Effect of Supplement: Deletion of limitations statement, "Do not feed to chickens producing eggs for human consumption" and establishment of a Tolerance for chlortetracycline in eggs.



II. INDICATIONS FOR USE

See below.



III. DOSAGE

A. DOSAGE FORM: Type A Medicated Article

B. ROUTE OF ADMINISTRATION: Oral - For use in Type C medicated chicken feeds.

C. RECOMMENDED DOSAGES:

CHICKENS

10-50 g/t Broiler/fryer chickens:
For increased rate of weight gain and improved feed efficiency.
100-200 g/t Control of infectious synovitis caused by Mycoplasmasynoviae susceptible to chlortetracycline. (Feed continuously for 7 to 14 days)
200-400 g/t Control of chronic respiratory disease (CRD) and air sac infection caused by Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Escherichia coli susceptible to chlortetracycline. (Feed continuously for 7 to 14 days)
WARNING: Zero-day withdrawal period.
500 g/t Reduction of mortality due to Escherichiacoli infections susceptible to chlortetracycline. (Feed for 5 days)
WARNING: Withdraw 24 hours prior to slaughter.



IV. EFFECTIVENESS

No further effectiveness data were required.



V. ANIMAL SAFETY

No further safety data were required.



VI. HUMAN FOOD SAFETY

A. Safe Concentrations of Total Residues

Recently, the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) revised the tolerances for tetracycline drugs (61 FR 67453). Based on an ADI (ADI) of 0.025 mg/kg of body weight (bw) per day, reserving 60% of the ADI for milk and eggs, unified tolerances of 2 ppm for muscle, 6 ppm for liver and 12 ppm for kidney and fat now are codified for total tetracycline residues (i.e., tetracycline, oxytetracycline and chlortetracycline). The ADI for milk and eggs is calculated as follows:

Using the above ADI, reserving 50% of the nontissue ADI for eggs, and applying the current consumption factors, the tolerance for total tetracyclines in eggs is calculated as follow:

While the toxicology data would support a tolerance as high as 4.5 ppm for eggs, we are unable to build a relationship between this tolerance value and the tolerances in the other edible tissues. A tolerance of 400 ppb is established for residues of chlortetracycline in the eggs of laying hens. This value is consistent with both the incurred residues seen in the eggs of treated hens and the tolerances in other tissues.

B. Studies to Establish a Withdrawal Time

"Aurofac 100: Determination of Chlortetracycline Residues in Eggs from Hens Fed 300ppm Chlortetracycline for Seven Consecutive Days," PE Gingher, January 20, 1989.

Study Director: PE Gingher

Study Location:

American Cyanamid Company
Agricultural Research Division
Princeton, NJ 08540

Twenty Hubbard White Leghorn laying hens were treated with 300 ppm CTC in the diet for seven consecutive days. Ten birds served as untreated controls. Eggs were collected from the treated birds from 0 through 12 days withdrawal and assayed microbiologically for residues of CTC. Eggs from control birds were assayed for CTC on days 0 and 5 of the withdrawal period. Eggs were assayed in order of collection until residues at two consecutive withdrawal days were less than 0.05 ppm. The study results are summarized in Table 1.

Table 1: Mean residues (ppm) of CTC in whole eggs from laying hens treated with 300 ppm CTC in the feed for seven consecutive days.

Withdrawal (days) Treatment Group Controls Treatment Group CTC, 300 ppm
0 Negative* Neg.-0.040
1 ** Neg.-0.038
2 ** Negative
3 ** Negative
4 ** Negative
5 Negative Negative

* Negative = activity £ 0.0375 ppm ** Not assayed

"Aureomycin Soluble Powder: Chlortetracycline Residues in Eggs from Hens Given 120ppm Chlortetracycline in Drinking Water for Seven Consecutive Days," PE Gingher, January 20, 1989.

Study Director: PE Gingher

Study Location:
American Cyanamid Company
Agricultural Research Division
Princeton, NJ 08540

Twenty White Leghorn laying hens were treated with 120 ppm CTC in the drinking water for seven consecutive days. Ten birds served as untreated controls. Eggs were collected from the treated birds from 0 through 12 days withdrawal and assayed microbiologically for residues of CTC. Eggs from control birds were assayed for CTC on days 0 and 5 of the withdrawal period. Eggs were assayed in order of collection until residues at two consecutive withdrawal days were less than 0.05 ppm. The study results are summarized in Table 2.

Table 2: Mean residues (ppm) of CTC in whole eggs from laying hens treated with 120 ppm CTC in the drinking water for seven consecutive days.

Withdrawal (days) Treatment Group Controls Treatment Group CTC, 120 ppm
0 Negative* Neg.-0.041
1 ** Neg.-0.041
2 ** Negative
3 ** Negative
4 ** Negative
5 Negative Negative

* Negative = activity £ 0.0375 ppm ** Not assayed

C. Confirming zero withdrawal for eggs

The reported residues in the eggs of treated hens are generally low. In the feeding study, birds were dosed at 60% of the maximum labeled dose. If residues for the study are corrected to the maximum codified dose of 500 ppm, they would range from negative to 0.07 ppm. In the drinking water study, birds were dosed at 45% of the maximum labeled dose. If residues for the study are corrected to the maximum codified dose of 1000mg/gallon (263 ppm), they would range from negative to 0.09 ppm.

The 99th percentile/95% confidence intervals were calculated for residues of chlortetracycline administered via feed and water. For feed administration, the upper confidence limit is 90 ppb for untransformed data and 95 ppb for log transformed data. For drinking water administration, the upper confidence limit is 105 ppb for untransformed data and 106 ppb for log transformed data. For both studies, residues in eggs at zero withdrawal are well below the tolerance of 400 ppb.

D. Regulatory Analytical Methods for Residues

The regulatory analytical method for detection of residues of the drug is a microbiological test using Bacillus cereus var mycoides (ATCC 11778). The method is found in Antibiotic Residues in Milk, Dairy Products, and Animal Tissues: Methods, Reports and Protocols, Revised October 1968, Reprinted December 1974, Nation Center for Antibiotic and Insulin Analysis, FDA, Washington, DC 20204.



VII. AGENCY CONCLUSIONS

This supplemental NADA satisfies the requirements of section 512 of the Act and demonstrates that AUREOMYCIN Type A Medicated Article when used under its proposed conditions of use, is safe and effective for the labeled indications. The supplemental approval provides for the use of this Type A Medicated Article in the treatment of chickens producing eggs for human consumption and the establishment of a tolerance for chlortetracycline in eggs (0.4 ppm).

The "probably effective"finding of the NAS/NRC/DESI regarding chlortetracycline hydrochloride was published in the FEDERAL REGISTER of July 21, 1970, subsequently reviewed by FDA, resulting in the upgrade to "effective status" and was DESI-finalized and codified in the FEDERAL REGISTER on July 9, 1996.

When NADA 48-761 was reviewed under NAS/NRC/DESI program, it was an over-the-counter product and this marketing status remains unchanged. Other Chlortetracycline Type A Medicated Articles for use in food-producing animals are also currently on the market as over-the-counter products. Therefore, the Center for Veterinary Medicine has concluded that this product should retain over-the-counter marketing status.

Under the Center's supplemental approval policy [21 CFR 514.106(b)(2)(ix)] this is a Category II change. The approval of this change is not expected to have any adverse effect on the safety or effectiveness of this new animal drug. However, the approval did require a re-evaluation of the human food safety data in the parent application.

Under the Generic Animal Drug and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1988, this supplemental approval for food producing animal qualifies for THREE years of marketing exclusivity beginning on the date of approval under Section 512(c)(2)(F)(iii) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act [21 U.S.C. 360b(c)(2)(F)(iii)] because the supplemental application contains reports of new human food safety studies (establishing the tolerance for eggs) essential to the approval of the application and conducted by the sponsor.



VIII. LABELING (Attached)

Aureomycin

50, 90, and 100 premix bags

Copies of applicable labels may be obtained by writing to the:

Food and Drug Administration
Freedom of Information Staff (HFI-35)
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD 20857
Or requests may be sent via fax to: (301) 443-1726. If there are problems sending a fax, call (301) 443-2414.


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[laughaha]

Ummmmmmmm, could you please explain what I'm looking at?

I get the infection and dosage parts of the table, but I'm lost when it comes to the packs/2 gallons stock solution. Is this the number of auremycin packs/ 2 gallons stock solution (water)?

Just heard a sneeze in with the chickens- sounded like one chicken did it twice in about half an hour. No clue who did it but with 80 odd chickens if one has something, they probably all are getting it and I want to nip it in the bud. Never dealt with a respiratory issue with mine before. Going to TSC tomorrow- do they have the auremycin and will the packs be obviously packets or will they be in a box? Which of the dosages should I use? I'm so confused...

 

[chicky1016]

Recommended by my neighbor who has over 100 chickens himself and has had chickens for 55 years or so. All of his are show chickens though, if that makes a difference. Mine are not. That's what he says he does and has success.
I am a rookie so I just took his advice.

 

[chicky1016]

His chickens are inspected and tested by the state twice a year. They are not sick. They get the occasional "cold" but thats about it. We have had a ton of rain here lately. Other people in this area that own chickens are having the same problem. I'll stick with what I know for now.

 

[umarson]

@ chicky1016
just about the size of average tea cup is enough for a day. Garlic is natural and safe. A week is enogh to see the difference. You can google for garlic to learn more about neutritional content.

 

[Feathered Wings]

Don't really have and answer i think for the respitory it's good but the withdrawl i don't know. Is it in Damerows book?
But you will be able to eat them once the withdrawl period is up

I'm sorry you have this and i hope it gets better