Efficacy of diclazuril in the control of intestinal coccidiosis in rabbits.

The anticoccidial efficacy of diclazuril was studied in rabbits artificially infected with Eimeria flavescens, Eimeria intestinalis, Eimeria magna and Eimeria perforans. Continuous administration at 1 and 2 ppm in pelleted feed proved to be highly efficacious in controlling oocyst output and faecal scores. The weight gain was comparable and the feed efficiency slightly improved compared with the non-infected, non-medicated controls, and clinical signs were fully prevented. Medication of rabbits at 0.5 ppm also provided a significant improvement in all parameters compared with the infected, non-medicated controls. In order to obtain 100% effectiveness in the control of intestinal coccidiosis in rabbits, continuous medication at 1 ppm is recommended.

Diclazuril, a new broad spectrum anticoccidial drug in chickens. 1. Dose titration studies and pilot floor pen trials.

Diclazuril, a new anticoccidial drug, was tested in poultry against six Eimeria species either in single species infections in dose titration studies or in mixed species infections in floor pen trials. The dose titration studies in cockerels indicated that diclazuril at dosages of 10, 5, 1, and .5 ppm was highly active against all major pathogenic species: E. tenella, E. acervulina, E. necatrix, E. brunetti, E. maxima, and E. mitis and effective in terms of weight gain and suppression of mortality, dropping scores, and oocyst counts. In two floor pen trials diclazuril was fed for 6 wk to broiler chickens experimentally infected either with E. tenella and E. acervulina or with E. necatrix and E. brunetti. Dose levels of 10, 5, and 1 ppm suppressed mortality and lesion scores. Even at 1 ppm the mean terminal body weight, feed conversion, and productivity index of treated birds were comparable to results for the uninfected, unmediated controls. In these pilot studies, involving 1,020 Hisex and 1,000 Hubbard broiler chickens, it has been demonstrated that diclazuril at the dose level of 1 ppm in the diet is an excellent anticoccidial without any adverse effects.

[Safety of a new anticoccidial agent, clazuril, during reproduction in carrier pigeons]. / Veiligheid van een nieuw anti-coccidiosemiddel clazuril tijdens de kweekperiode bij postduiven.

In a six-month study, the safety of repeated treatments with clazuril, a new anticoccidial agent for the treatment of pigeons, was evaluated during 4 to 5 consecutive reproduction cycles. Clazuril was administered weekly at the recommended therapeutic dose level of 2.5 mg/pigeon and at twice this dose. The results were compared to placebo treatment. Evaluation was based on the following parameters: reproductive behaviour, egg laying, fertilisation, embryonic mortality, hatching, percentage of weaning and time interval between consecutive reproductive cycles. Maternal-paternal toxicity (body weight evolution, feather coat) and tolerance in newborn pigeons (general behaviour, daily gain in body weight, feathering, skeletal anomalies) were also evaluated. In all the treatment groups, reproductive performance was comparable and no drug- or dose-related side-effects were observed. Fertilisation, embryonic mortality and the time-interval between the consecutive reproductive cycles remained within the normal physiological range. Hatched pigeons showed a satisfactory daily weight gain and deaths among these birds were exceptional. Tolerance of clazuril in adult as well as in day-old pigeons was exceptionally good and body weight evolution, feathering and mortality were not adversely affected. No drug-related pathological findings or skeletal anomalies were detected in the animals at autopsy. It can be concluded that repeated treatments with clazuril are entirely harmless for pigeons during reproduction, even at double the therapeutic dose level. Clazuril is well tolerated by newborn and growing pigeons, which means that pigeon house group treatments during reproduction may be performed without any risk.