Integration of halofuginone lactate treatment and disinfection with p-chloro-m-cresol to control natural cryptosporidiosis in calves

Abstract

Two field studies were accomplished on a dairy farm in Saxony to compare different strategies for the control of natural cryptosporidiosis in newborn calves. In the first study, 96 newborn calves were allocated to four different groups immediately after birth. Calves of group H and of group HN were treated orally with 120 μg/kg body weight (BW) of halofuginone lactate daily during the first seven days of life. Calves of group C and of group CN were treated with a same volume of tap water. As an additional measure, the pens of groups HN and CN were disinfected with 3% Neopredisan 135-1(®)(p-chloro-m-cresol), the pens of groups C and H remained non-disinfected. Faeces were examined semi-quantitatively for oocyst excretion using carbolfuchsin-staining and the clinical course was recorded. While disinfection alone (group CN) had no effect on oocyst shedding and diarrhoea, treatment with halofuginone lactate (groups H and HN) reduced oocyst shedding and diarrhoea significantly. Combination of treatment and disinfection (group HN) controlled cryptosporidiosis completely during the first two weeks after birth. However, prevalence of diarrhoea and oocyst shedding was higher in the third week of life in group HN than in any of the other groups. This delayed occurrence of cryptosporidiosis was not seen in study 2 when all calves were similarly protected by treatment and specific disinfection. Oocyst shedding was not observed in peripartal cows either by carbolfuchsin staining, ELISA or PCR.

Cryptosporidium outbreak in calves on a large dairy farm: Effect of treatment and the association with the inflammatory response and short-term weight gain

“…(For interpretation of the references to colour in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the web version of this article.) to decrease the number of Cryptosporidium oocysts shed in faeces, similar to what has been reported in one study (Weber et al, 2016), but contrary to another (Keidel and Daugschies, 2013). Nevertheless, the correctly performed prophylactic treatment had a delaying effect on the onset of shedding ( Fig.…”

“…1S), but resulted in a poorer ADWG (Table 5). Previous investigations have also reported that HL can cause a delay in oocyst shedding (Jarvie et al, 2005;Trotz-Williams et al, 2011;Keidel and Daugschies, 2013), but not an impact on the survival of calves. Calves have higher risk of succumbing to dehydration and acidosis due to diarrhoea in their first week of life (Foster and Smith, 2009).…”

Cryptosporidium parvum infection and associated risk factors in dairy calves in western France

“…In a recent randomized controlled field trial, the halofuginone group showed a longer prepatent period than the control, although there was no difference in the number of oocysts shed (Almawly et al, 2013). Other studies have reported a significant reduction in the shedding of oocysts and diarrhea by HL-treated newborn calves (Klein, 2008;de Waele et al, 2010;Trotz-Williams et al, 2011;Keidel and Daugschies, 2013).…”

Comparison of the Effectiveness of Halofuginone Lactate and Paromomycin in the Treatment of Calves Naturally Infected with Cryptosporidium parvum

“…It shows this effect on the merozoite and sporozoite stages of C. parvum [10,14]. Halofuginone lactate reduces the severity of cryptosporidiosis, delays the start of infection and reduces oocyst shedding, and is recommended for calves as a therapeutic and protective agent [3,10,11,13,14]. Paromomycin, another effective drug, is a large-spectrum antibiotic in the aminoglycosides group produced by Streptomyces rimosus var.…”