The Influence of a Feed Additive Level of Virginiamycin on the Course of an Experimentally Induced Salmonella typhimurium Infection in Broilers

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of virginiamycin on the course of an experimentally induced infection of Salmonella typhimurium in broilers. Several parameters were evaluated, including effects on the persistence and duration of shedding of the infecting Salmonella organism and its antibiotic resistance patterns. Virginiamycin was admin-istered to the experimentally infected group for 8 weeks in feed at concentrations of 25 g/ton. This was compared to an infected control group not receiving the antibiotic. No effects were exhibited by virginiamycin on Salmonella typhimurium shedding and antibiotic resistance patterns