Toltrazuril and diclazuril: comparative evaluation of anti-coccidial drugs using a murine model

Abstract

Intestinal coccidiosis caused by Eimeria protozoan species is an economically important disease, especially in poultry and cattle. Anti-coccidial drugs commonly used for controlling coccidiosis are toltrazuril (TTZ) and diclazuril (DCZ). In this study, the efficacies of TTZ and DCZ were compared using a murine model, and the effect of these treatments on the induction of acquired resistance was evaluated. Male C57BL/6J mice were inoculated with 1,000 sporulated E. vermiformis oocytes and treated with TTZ or DCZ. The recommended TTZ dose for cattle (15 mg/kg) completely prevented oocyte excretion. But, mice required 5 mg/kg of DCZ, which is five times the recommended dose for cattle, to reduce oocyte excretion. In E. vermiformis re-infection, TTZ (15 mg/kg) and DCZ (5 mg/kg) treatments did not interfere with the development of acquired resistance. Bodyweight gain was significantly higher in the TTZtreated group than in the control (untreated/infected) group and the DCZ-treated group, and no significant difference in bodyweight gain was observed between the TTZ-treated group and the healthy (uninfected/untreated) group. Analysis of T lymphocyte subsets in the spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes indicated that the relative populations of CD4 + and CD8 + T cells were reduced in the DCZ-treated and control (untreated/infected) groups, suggesting there was immunosuppression during the infection. However, no reductions in T cell populations were observed in the TTZ-treated group. The results indicated that an optimal anti-coccidial drug is one that can completely break the parasite life cycle in the host animal.

Anticoccidial and jejunum‐protective effects of Krameria lappacea roots extract on experimental Eimeria papillata infection

“…At day 5 p.i., BW underwent a significant decrease in the infected group. This weight loss and FI were previously studied by others (Ahmadi et al, 2022;Dkhil et al, 2012;Metwaly et al, 2012;Thagfan et al, 2017) who explained this issue due to a reduction in the absorptive function of the intestinal mucosa and lead to nutrients malabsorption, inefficient feed utilization, and impaired BW gain (Anwar et al, 2008). Our result demonstrated a disturbance in both carbohydrate and protein status in the jejunal tissues.…”

Portulaca oleracea exhibited anti-coccidian activity, fortified the gut microbiota of Hu lambs

“…DIC is an anti-coccidian drug widely used in poultry production (El-Ashram S et al 2019; Wang Z et al 2020). However, due to the long-term and large-scale use of DIC, drug resistance has become problematic (Ahmadi P et al 2022). P. oleracea poses a low risk of drug resistance and has shown longlasting anti-coccidian effects, thereby demonstrating advantages as a promising treatment option.…”