Efficacy of Toltrazuril 5 % Suspension (Baycox®, Bayer) and Diclazuril (Vecoxan®, Janssen-Cilag) in the Control of Eimeria spp. in Lambs

Manuela Diaferia,Lucio Nisoli,Daniela Piergili Fioretti,Fabrizia Veronesi,Giulia Morganti

doi:10.1007/s00436-013-3440-1

Manuela Diaferia, Lucio Nisoli + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-013-3440-1

Copy DOI

Journal: Parasitology Research	Publication Date: Jun 12, 2013
Citations: 34	License type: cc-by

Affiliation: University of Perugia, Bayer (Italy)

Abstract

Sheep coccidiosis is a pathology caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Eimeria spp. with clinical and economic effect especially in young animals (Ambrosi 1995; Pellérdy 1974). A field study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of a metaphylactic treatment with toltrazuril 5 % suspension (Baycox®, Bayer) in comparison with diclazuril (Vecoxan®, Janssen-Cilag) and untreated controls against naturally acquired Eimeria infections in housed lambs. A total of 170 animals, aged 24 to 34 days and randomly divided in three homogeneous groups, were included in the study. The assessment of treatment efficacy was based on total faecal oocyst excretion (opg) and count reduction (FOCR) in the two groups of animals treated with toltrazuril (TOLT) and diclazuril (DICL) compared with untreated control group (C). The animals treated with toltrazuril showed a considerably lower mean opg to that of group C (5.78 opg versus 144.62 opg) (p < 0.05) and a FOCR of 97.7 %. The higher efficacy (99.23 %) was observed at 15 days post treatment; however, the average efficacy of the drug remained extremely high (> 90 %) for all the study. The lambs treated with diclazuril showed an intense, persistent oocyst excretion with average levels of 97.54 opg, (p < 0.05). This study demonstrates the good efficacy of toltrazuril administered orally to lambs in the prepatent period in subclinical natural Eimeria infections in housed lambs.

Highlights

Coccidial infections of sheep have been observed in almost all sheep-rearing countries in the world (Pellérdy 1974) and it is assumed that most, if not all, domestic ruminants become infected with coccidia during their lives (Taylor and Catchpole 1994)
The purpose of this work is to verify under field conditions the efficacy of a metaphylactic treatment with toltrazuril 5 % suspension (Baycox®, Bayer) and diclazuril (Vecoxan® Janssen-Cilag) on natural infections in sheep caused by the coccidia Eimeria
The variations in prevalence and predominance of E. ahsata and E. crandallis were less obvious compared to E. ovinoidalis throughout the test

Summary

Introduction

Coccidial infections of sheep have been observed in almost all sheep-rearing countries in the world (Pellérdy 1974) and it is assumed that most, if not all, domestic ruminants become infected with coccidia during their lives (Taylor and Catchpole 1994). Clinical eimeriosis only occurs if the host is subjected to heavy infection or if its resistance is lowered (Taylor 1995). All age groups are susceptible to infection, but disease outbreaks are usually restricted to younger animals (Taylor and Catchpole 1994). Gregory and Catchpole (1989) showed that susceptibility of lambs to E. ovinoidalis and E. crandallis increases progressively up to at least 4 weeks of age. Depending on the rearing conditions, lambs are mostly affected by clinical eimeriosis around 6 weeks of age or when animals are moved to feedlots (Foreyt 1990). The parasite population increases enormously during the first passages in susceptible animals, and lambs born later are at greater risk (Catchpole et al 1993).

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion