Toltrex for the treatment of eimeriosis of lambs

Abstract

Eimeriosis of small ruminants is an economically significant disease. A large percentage of lambs are susceptible to this protozoal disease at an early age. Acute eimeriosis can increase susceptibility to other intestinal infections. Eimeria, once in the body of an animal, cause a disturbance in the digestive processes, weaken the resistance of the body of lambs, and thereby also become a factor contributing to the occurrence of various infectious and helminthic diseases in small ruminants. Therefore, it is necessary to keep this protozoal disease under control. Coccidia are able to quickly form resistance to anticoccidial drugs, therefore, during therapy, it is necessary to periodically rotate anticoccidial drugs, as well as to carry out practical experimental work with new drugs in order to increase the effectiveness of veterinary measures.Material and methods. In a production experiment for the treatment of eimeriosis of lambs, the drug Toltrex 5% in the form of a suspension for oral administration produced by VIC-Animal Health was taken. It contains the active ingredient toltrazuril — 50 mg, as well as auxiliary components up to 1 ml. The drug has a wide spectrum of anticoccidial action and is effective against Eimeria arloingi, Eimeria scabra, Eimeria guevarai and other types of coccidia parasitizing in lambs and kids. The finely dispersed molecule of the active substance and the uniform distribution of toltrazuril in the suspension ensure high bioavailability and prolongation of the preparation in the animal’s body. After oral administration of the drug, the active substance toltrazuril is slowly absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract and has a coccidiocidal effect at the stage of intracellular development of the parasite. In the body, it is partially metabolized by sulfooxidation and hydroxylation, with the formation of derivatives of sulfoxide and sulfone. Toltrazuril is excreted from the body mainly unchanged (70%), as well as in the form of metabolites with feces and partly with urine.Results. As a result of the studies carried out, Toltrex® showed a high therapeutic efficacy of 90% for eimeriosis of lambs in the conditions of the grazing period.