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Possible Toxic Effects of Gentamicin in Newly Hatched Turkey Poults

Department of Poultry Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7608; Phone: (919) 515-2626; FAX: (919) 515-2625

Correspondence: W. E. Donaldson

When poults hatch, they have limited carbohydrate reserves. Hatchery servicing (cloacal sexing, desnooding, beak and toe trimming, and injections) depletes those reserves and places the poults at increased risk of early mortality. Hatchery injections frequently include gentamicin to control bacterial infections in newly hatched turkey poults. In the experiments reported here, gentamicin injections decreased the activities of glucose-6-phosphatase (G-6-Pase) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) - both gluconeogenic enzymes - and increased muscle lactate concentration. Both results are consistent with lowered gluconeogenic capacity. The increased concentration of plasma uric acid and the reduced clearance of phenol red from the blood in gentamicin-injected poults are indications of impaired kidney function. The results suggest that the use of gentamicin injections (1 mg/poult) in newly hatched turkeys may be detrimental and could be a risk factor for early poult mortality.

Key Words: Antibiotic injection • early poult mortality • gentamicin • nephrotoxicity