diclazuril and Body-Weight

One hundred and twenty weaned male lambs, naturally infected with Eimeria species, were used to assess the economic benefits of the prophylactic administration of diclazuril. They were randomly divided into four groups of 30 lambs on the basis of their bodyweight and output of oocysts. The groups were either left untreated (group 1), treated orally with a simple dose of diclazuril at 1 mg/kg (group 2), with two doses two weeks apart (group 3), or with sulphadimethoxine at 50 mg/kg for five consecutive days (group 4). No clinical signs of coccidiosis were observed in any of the groups. The output of oocysts was significantly reduced on day 7 after treatment in group 2, on days 7, 14 and 28 in group 3 and on days 7 and 14 in group 4. No significant differences were found between the treated and untreated groups for bodyweight, carcase weight and carcase classification. The mean fattening period was shorter for the treated lambs (52 and 55 days) than for the untreated controls (60 days). The average growth rate of the lambs treated twice with diclazuril and with sulphadimethoxine was improved and the feed conversion rates of the lambs treated once or twice with diclazuril were 7 per cent and 16 per cent better than that of the untreated lambs.

Topics: Animal Husbandry; Animals; Body Weight; Coccidiosis; Coccidiostats; Growth; Male; Nitriles; Parasite Egg Count; Sheep; Sheep Diseases; Triazines

The effects of diclazuril and monensin, when included in the feed of turkeys from 0 to 10 wk, upon performance and development of immunity to Eimeria species was investigated. Birds were initially inoculated with a low dose of oocysts of three species of Eimeria at 3, 5, 7, and 9 days of age in order to simulate a natural infection. Weight gain and feed intake from 0 to 6 wk of age was significantly greater in medicated birds compared with those that received no anticoccidial medication. Weight gain and feed intake from 6 to 10 wk was greater in birds that received diclazuril than in unmedicated birds. No differences in performance were evident after drug withdrawal from 10 to 16 wk. Immunity to Eimeria species developed by 10 wk in birds that received no anticoccidial medication but did not develop in those given diclazuril or monensin.

Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Body Weight; Coccidiosis; Coccidiostats; Eating; Eimeria; Immunity, Innate; Monensin; Nitriles; Poultry Diseases; Triazines; Turkeys