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Contributed Papers: Posters
Chemotherapy


Efficacy of decoquinate at different administration strategies against cryptosporidiosis in natural infected cashmere goat kids


L.M. Ortega-Mora, K. Osoro, U. García, S. Pedraza-Diaz,
M. Gómez-Bautista, A. Richard(2), I. Ferre.
Dpto. Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria,
Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avda.
Puerta de Hierro s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain–
(2) Alpharma, Silic 411, 3 Impasse de la Noisette,
91374 Verrières le Buisson,France,
alain.richard@alpharma.com

This trial was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of decoquinate to prevent cryptosporidiosis in goat kids.
The experiment (3 groups) was conducted in a flock of Cashmere goats with a confirmed history of neonatal diarrhoea caused by Cryptosporidium sp.
- Group A.- 24 kids unmedicated,.
- Group B.- 25 kids that received orally from 3 days old 2.5 mg/kg/day of décoquinate for 21 days.
- Group C.- 15 kids that were not medicated, but born from goats treated during 21 days before the expected day of kidding with 2.5 mg/kg/day of décoquinate ..
The animals included in the control group showed the most severe clinical signs such as significantly softer faecal consistency at 11 days after birth, and one kid died 9 days after birth Episodes of diarrhoea were only observed in some kids included in the unmedicated group between 11 and 13 days after birth. Kids in group B showed softer faeces than those included in group C at 15 and 17 days after birth. Abdominal pain was only observed in some kids showing diarrhoea in control group.
The mean weight gains during the experimental period for groups A, B and C were 2.61, 2.57 and 3.23 kg, respectively.
The pattern of oocyst shedding was similar in the three groups. However, oocyst shedding scores in groups B and C were notably lower than those observed in the control group over the experiment. In addition, the maximum oocyst shedding scores were reached sooner in the control group (11 days after birth) than in groups B (13 days) and C (15 days). The number of unmedicated Cashmere kids shedding Cryptosporidium sp. oocysts was significantly higher than those observed in kids of groups B and C. In general, the percentage of treated kids shedding oocysts was significantly lower than those kids born from medicated does.

The present study shows that decoquinate treatment at 2.5 mg/kg/day for 21 days delay the appearance of clinical cryptosporidiosis and reduces the severity of naturally acquired cryptosporidiosis in kids and prevented episodes of diarrhoea.
On the other hand, the kids born from mothers treated with decoquinate has similar results to those obtained in treated kids and notably better than those observed in the untreated ones. These kids showed a better final weight gain than medicated and control kids.
An explanation of this result may be the effect of decoquinate on the periparturient rise.


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