Efficacy of salinomycin in treatment of experimental Eimeria bovis infections in calves
Benz, G.W.; Ernst, J.V.
American Journal of Veterinary Research 40(8): 1180-1186
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9645 PMID: 525921 Document Number: 152354
The efficacy of salinomycin for the treatment of Eimeria bovis infection in calves was evaluated in 3 experiments. In experiment 1, using 18 calves, group 1 were untreated controls and groups 2, 3 and 4 were given salinomycin (0.33, 0.66 and 1.00 mg/kg body-weight, respectively) in daily oral divided doses starting 2 or 3 days before infection and continuing for 21 days after. Groups 3 and 4 passed significantly fewer oocysts than groups 1 and 2. The untreated controls showed typical symptoms of severe E. bovis infection, but signs of infection in the treated calves were slight. In experiment 2, using 15 calves, group 5 were untreated controls and groups 6, 7 and 8 were treated with 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg, respectively. All group 8 calves and 3 of 4 group 7 calves had almost complete suppression of oocyst excretion. The severity of the disease in group 5 controls was less than that in group 1 controls. In experiment 3, using 16 calves, group 9 were untreated controls and the other animals were given salinomycin (2.0 mg/kg) on days 3 to 7 after infection (group 10), on days 8 to 12 (group 11) and on days 13 to 17 (group 12). Groups 10 and 12 were not significantly different from the controls, but group 11 calves passed significantly fewer oocysts and had less clinical symptoms.