Prevalence and control of bovine cryptosporidiosis in German dairy herds.
In a 5-year survey regarding its prevalence and importance in five German state veterinary laboratories Cryptosporidium was diagnosed annually in 19-36% of faecal samples either submitted to the laboratories or taken post mortem. In approximately half of the cases no other enteropathogens were detected. However, only 73% of 30 laboratories participating in a questionnaire survey routinely tested for this parasite, and the majority of researchers considered cryptosporidiosis to be of minor importance. In a placebo-controlled field study 152 suckling calves were treated daily against cryptosporidiosis either with sulfadimidine or with halofuginone (Halocur, Intervet) over 1 week. Treatment by oral drench started at the onset of diarrhoea in the herd. Oocyst excretion, faecal consistency and health status were recorded five times for a 3-week period. Oocyst excretion peaked 7-14 days in the placebo group after the onset of diarrhoea, and during that period prevalence and intensity of excretion were significantly lower in the halofuginone-treated group compared to the sulfadimidine and the placebo control groups. The health status (diarrhoea, dehydration) declined in all groups but was significantly (P<0.05-0.001) better in the halofuginone group in the first 2 weeks. Halofuginone effectively (P<0.05-0.001) reduced oocyst excretion and improved the health status of the treated animals, while sulfadimidine had no effect against Cryptosporidium.
Joachim
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Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Institute for Parasitology, University of Leipzig, An den Tierklinken 35, 04103 Leipzig, Germany. ajoachim@vetmed.uni-leipzig.de
Krull
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Schwarzkopf
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Daugschies
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D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D003049:Coccidiostats / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000662:veterinary; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003612:Dairying; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D033661:Oocysts / Q000187:drug effects; D010880:Piperidines; D015995:Prevalence; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D052999:Quinazolinones; D013418:Sulfamethazine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D003049:Coccidiostats; D010880:Piperidines; D011799:Quinazolines; D052999:Quinazolinones; D013418:Sulfamethazine; C010176:halofuginone