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.