Prophylactic use of decoquinate for infections with Cryptosporidium parvum in experimentally challenged neonatal calves
- 15 September 2003
- journal article
- Published by American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Vol. 223 (6), 839-845
- https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.2003.223.839
Abstract
Objective—To evaluate the effect of daily oral administration of decoquinate to neonatal calves experimentally challenged with various numbers of Cryptosporidium parvumo ocysts. Design—Clinical trial. Animals—75 calves. Procedure—Calves were purchased from a commercial dairy during a 5-week period. Calves were housed in individual hutches and fed milk replacer with or without decoquinate (2 mg/kg [0.9 mg/lb per day]). Calves were randomly assigned to treatment and 1 of 5 challenge groups (0, 50, 100, 1000, or 10,000 C parvum oocysts in 60 mL of saline [0.9% NaCl] solution administered PO on the day after arrival). Calves were maintained in the study for as long as 28 days. Calves were clinically assessed for diarrhea and dehydration. Fecal samples were submitted for oocyst enumeration 3 times each week. Results—Treatment did not affect number of days to first watery feces (diarrhea), number of days to first oocyst shedding, or duration of diarrhea or oocyst shedding. Duration of oocyst shedding was significantly associated with challenge dose of oocysts administered to calves and number of days to first oocyst shedding. Duration of diarrhea and number of days to first oocyst shedding were significantly associated with week of arrival and number of days to first watery diarrhea. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Daily treatment with decoquinate at the dosage used in this study did not affect oocyst shedding or clinical signs associated with cryptosporidiosis. However, there was an indication that if the number of oocysts calves received could be reduced, then the duration of oocyst shedding and, hence, environmental loading of C parvum oocysts could be reduced. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 2003;223:839–845)Keywords
This publication has 30 references indexed in Scilit:
- In vitro and in vivo efficacy of lasalocid for treatment of experimental cryptosporidiosisVeterinary Parasitology, 2000
- Filth Flies Are Transport Hosts ofCryptosporidium parvumEmerging Infectious Diseases, 1999
- Cryptosporidiosis in Bovine and Human HealthJournal of Dairy Science, 1998
- Strategies for the Control of Cryptosporidium parvum Infection in CalvesJournal of Dairy Science, 1998
- Cryptosporidium parvum: Intensity of Infection and Oocyst Excretion Patterns in Healthy VolunteersThe Journal of Infectious Diseases, 1996
- The Infectivity ofCryptosporidium parvumin Healthy VolunteersNew England Journal of Medicine, 1995
- The effect of halofuginone lactate on experimental Cryptosporidium parvum infections in calvesVeterinary Parasitology, 1993
- In vitroexcystation ofCryptosporidium parvumParasitology, 1993
- Evaluation of Decoquinate or Lasalocid Against Coccidiosis from Natural Exposure in Neonatal Dairy CalvesJournal of Dairy Science, 1991
- Efficacy of halofuginone lactate against Cryptosporidium parvum in calvesAntimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 1991