Treatment with beta-cyclodextrin of natural Cryptosporidium parvum infections in lambs under field conditions.
Following the unexpected activity of the excipient beta-cyclodextrin against experimental infection by Cryptosporidium parvum in suckling mice, its efficacy in the prevention and treatment of natural infections in lambs was evaluated under field conditions. Fifty-three crossbred neonatal lambs were randomly selected for the study. Treatment consisted of oral administration of an aqueous suspension of beta-cyclodextrin at a dose of 500 mg/kg of body weight. To test prophylactic efficacy, the suspension was administered at 1, 2 and 3 days of age. To evaluate therapeutic efficacy, the suspension was administered on each of the 3 days following onset of diarrhoea. Infection was monitored by daily examination of faecal samples, from birth to 30 days. The criteria studied in evaluating efficacy were: oocyst shedding, the presence of diarrhoea, and weight gain at 15 and 30 days. In the group that received prophylactic treatment with beta-cyclodextrin, there were no mortalities and, compared with control lambs, there was a decrease in the number of animals infected, a longer prepatent period and notable reduction in the patent period and the duration of diarrhoea. Therapeutic treatment also reduced the patent period and the severity of diarrhoea. beta-cyclodextrin was well tolerated by all of the treated animals.
Castro-Hermida
J A
JA
Laboratorio de Parasitología, Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, La Coruña, Spain.
Quílez-Cinca
J
J
López-Bernad
F
F
Sánchez-Acedo
C
C
Freire-Santos
F
F
Ares-Mazás
E
E
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016785:Cryptosporidium parvum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D003505:Cyclodextrins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010270:Parasite Egg Count / Q000662:veterinary; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D013030:Spain; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects; D047392:beta-Cyclodextrins
D003505:Cyclodextrins; D047392:beta-Cyclodextrins; C031215:betadex