Food additives Europe numbers: E717
Avilamycin is an antibiotic specifically designed for veterinary use in animals like chickens, turkeys, pigs, and rabbits [1, 2]. It's not a medicine used in humans. Here's a closer look at its properties and applications:
Function in Animals:
- Avilamycin belongs to the class of orthosomycin antibiotics. These antibiotics target and inhibit bacterial protein synthesis [1, 3].
- It's particularly effective against Gram-positive bacteria, a common type of bacteria found in the gut that can cause enteric infections [2, 3].
Combats Enteric Diseases:
- Avilamycin is primarily used to control and prevent bacterial enteric infections in poultry and livestock [1, 2]. These infections affect the intestines and can cause problems like diarrhea, inflammation, and stunted growth.
- A specific example is necrotic enteritis in chickens, a disease caused by Clostridium perfringens bacteria, which Avilamycin can effectively control [4].
Mechanism of Action:
- Avilamycin works by binding to a specific part of the bacterial ribosome, a cellular structure essential for protein production in bacteria [3]. This binding disrupts protein synthesis, hindering the bacteria's ability to grow and reproduce.