The effect of salinomycin on the control of Clostridium perfringens type-A infection in growing pigs.

Salinomycin (SAL), an ionophorous polyether antibiotic with growth promoter properties in pigs, has proved to be effective in controlling swine dysentery, porcine intestinal adenomatosis, and porcine haemorrhagic enteropathy. This study examines the ability of SAL to control C. perfringens type-A infection in growing pigs under field conditions. For 2 months, two groups of weaned pigs were offered feed either free of antibiotics, or medicated with 60 ppm and 30 ppm SAL for the first and second month respectively, and were compared with regard to their performance. The results showed that, whilst treatment did not have an effect on the mortality of pigs, the duration of pig diarrhoea during the trial period has been markedly reduced in the SAL group. Laboratory examinations have additionally shown that the number of carrier piglets has been reduced by SAL medication. Finally, treated pigs gained more weight and had a better feed-conversion ratio than untreated pigs during the 2-month trial period. It was concluded that SAL at the registered dose range, used as performance enhancer, can be helpful in controlling C. perfringens type-A infection in growing pigs.