Activity of sulfadimethoxine against cryptosporidiosis in dairy calves.
Of 13 neonatal calves inoculated orally with 1.5 x 10(6) oocysts of Cryptosporidium parvum, 7 in group A were fed 5-g boluses of sulfadimethoxine for 21 consecutive days beginning 1 day before infection, and 6 calves in group B were untreated controls. Calves in group A had diarrhea for 6-18 days (mean = 11 days); those in group B had diarrhea for 4-14 days (mean = 8.7 days). The severity of diarrhea, based on a daily numerical scoring system, was similar for both groups. Calves in group A shed an average of 18 x 10(6) oocysts/ml of feces for 3.9 days; those in group B shed an average of 2.4 x 10(6) oocysts/ml of feces for 5.3 days. By 28 days of age, calves in group A vs. group B gained an average of 8.9 kg vs. 15.7 kg. These findings indicate that sulfadimethoxine did not significantly reduce the number of days or severity of diarrhea, or the number of oocysts or patent period, nor did it improve weight gains.
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United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, Maryland 20705-2350.
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D013412:Sulfadimethoxine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015430:Weight Gain
D013412:Sulfadimethoxine