Epidemiology of Eimeria infections in an Austrian milking sheep flock and control with diclazuril.
In a flock of milking sheep from Styria (Austria), the dynamics of Eimeria oocyst excretion was monitored in the lambing season 2003-2004 and a treatment trial with 1 mg/kg diclazuril (single dose on day 0 of study) was conducted in two groups of early weaned lambs. Adult animals (n = 30 ewes, 30 yearlings) excreted oocysts of different species (weekly prevalences from week -7 ante partum to week 5 post-partum: ewes 20-60%, yearlings 38-73%) in low intensities (< or = 6000 oocyst per gram of faeces, highest values in weeks -1 and -4) without clinical signs. Ewes excreted significantly fewer oocysts than yearlings. Lambs in the first group (n = 32 treated animals, 32 controls) excreted oocysts from the seventh day of sampling (average age on day 0: 28 days), those in the consecutive group (n = 32 treated animals, 30 controls) already excreted oocysts on day 0 (average age: 34 days). Treatment resulted in significant reduction of the overall excretion rates on days 7-21 of study compared with untreated controls. Similarly, the excretion intensities were significantly reduced in the treated groups. Overall excretion rates of the pathogenic species (Eimeria ovinoidalis, Eimeria bakuensis, Eimeria weybridgensis/Eimeria crandallis, Eimeria ahsata) were significantly reduced after treatment. Soft faeces and anal soiling in the lambs were significantly reduced and weight gain was increased. A single treatment of lambs with diclazuril before or shortly after the onset of oocyst shedding was sufficient to control oocyst excretion and improve animal health.
Platzer
B
B
Institute of Parasitology and Zoology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, A-1210 Wien, Austria.
Prosl
H
H
Cieslicki
M
M
Joachim
A
A
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003049:Coccidiostats / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004539:Eimeria / Q000187:drug effects; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009570:Nitriles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D033661:Oocysts / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010270:Parasite Egg Count / Q000662:veterinary; D011897:Random Allocation; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014227:Triazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015430:Weight Gain
D003049:Coccidiostats; D009570:Nitriles; D014227:Triazines; C057884:diclazuril