Studies on the effect of butylated hydroxytoluene on Mycoplasma synoviae

Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) is one of the antioxidants added to human and animal feed products in concentrations ranging from 50 to 200 ppm to delay degradation of the labile lipid components. BHT is known to be an inactivator of mammalian and bacterial viruses that contain lipid. Results of in vitro studies showed that 10 ppm of BHT in Mycoplasma medium prevented growth of each of the six Mycoplasma synoviae (Ms) isolates. BHT added at 100, 200, and 400 ppm in the feed did not have any significant in vivo effect on the Ms serological responses or show any chemoprophylactic effect on birds infected with Ms.