Effect of some Anti-Coccidial Drugs on Glucose Absorption Pattern in Female Chickens

Effect of four commonly used anti-coccidial agents (nitrofurazone-furazolidone, furaltadone, amprolium and Na salt of p-toluenesulphonyl-β-methoxyethyl uretliane) on glucose absorption were investigated in White Leghorn female birds. Two concentrations of each drug; 0.1 and 1.0 mg/kg body weight, which were considered minimum or preventive and maximum or curative doses respectively, were injected followed by 5 ml of 5 per cent glucose solution into the lumen of the ligated middle segment of small intestine. Pattern of glucose absorption was determined at 5 and 10 minutes absorption intervals in the blood of mesentric veins draining the segments. The minimum concentration of drugs did not alter the glucose absorption significantly. However, nitrofurazone-furazolidone, though not significant showed better efficiency in increasing the glucose absorption over other drugs. Amprolium and Na salt of p-toluene sulphonyl-β-methoxyethyl uretliane at their ‘maximum concentration increased the glucose absorption significantly (P < 0.05) at 5 minutes absorption time. Furaltadone and Na salt of p-toluene sulphonyl-β-methoxyethyl urcthane maintained the increasing trend upto 10 minutes.