Table 1 Reproduction parameters achieved with enrofloxacin- and marbofloxacin-treated eggs. Reproduction parameters measured include: Egg numbers set = total eggs of the group incubated, Fertility = percentage of fertilised eggs, Hatchability = percentage of chicks hatching from the fertilised eggs, Pre-term hatching = percentage of chicks hatching on days 19 and 20, Hatching chicks with joint deformity = percentage of chicks showing signs of swollen joints, Total hatching success = percentage of chicks hatching from total eggs set into the incubator. Groups: C1 = untreated control, C2 = sham-treated control eggs (aqua pro injectione); E1, E2, E3 = groups exposed to 1, 10 and 100 μg of enrofloxacin per 1 g of egg weight, respectively; M1, M2, M3 = groups exposed to 1, 10 and 100 μg of marbofloxacin per 1 g of egg weight, respectively; * = p < 0.05, ** = p < 0.01 (compared against control group C1 or C2)
Groups / Parameters | Untreated control | Sham-treated control | Enrofloxacin-treated Dose | Marbofloxacin-treated Dose | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
C1 | C2 | Low E1 | Medium E2 | High E3 | Low M1 | Medium M2 | High M3 | |
Egg numbers set | 26 | 26 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
Fertility (%) | 84 | 96 | 90 | 95 | 85 | 95 | 100 | 100 |
Hatchability (%) | 90.1 | 84 | 55.6 C1*C2* | 84.2 | 35.3 C1**C2** | 68.4 | 65 C1* | 45 C1**C2** |
Pre-term hatching (%) | 0 | 0 | 70 C1**C2** | 31.3 C1**C2** | 33.3 C1**C2** | 61.5 C1**C2** | 69.2 C1**C2** | 44.4 C1**C2** |
Hatching chicks with joint deformity (%) | 0 | 0 | 40 C1**C2** | 0 | 66.67 C1**C2** | 15.38 C1*C2* | 0 | 55.56 C1**C2** |
Total hatching success (%) | 76.9 | 80.8 | 50 C2* | 80 | 30 C1**C2** | 40 C1*C2** | 65 | 45 C1*C2* |