The impact of different levels of functional oil supplementation in combination with salinomycin on growth performance and intestinal microbiota of broilers undergoing Eimeria challenge: An analysis of dynamics.

The effect of salinomycin sodium alone and in combination with functional oils on performance and microbiota of broiler infected Eimeria were evaluated. 512 broilers were randomly assigned to 4 treatments (8 replicates, 16 birds/pen): a Control group (any additives); Ionophore group: salinomycin supplementation at 66 ppm (SS66); Ionophore +0.075% Functional oil (FO) group (SS66 + FO supplementation at 750 ppm); and Ionophore +0.10% FO group (SS66 + FO supplementation at 1000 ppm). At 14 days of age, birds were gavaged with 1 mL of a saline solution containing sporulated oocysts of E. tenella, E. acervulina and E. maxima. Performance indices were measured weekly. At 28 days, intestinal content was collected for microbiota analysis. Broilers of Control group presented the worst performance indices. Broilers of Ionophore + FO (0.075% and 0.10%) groups exhibited a higher BW at 28 days of age. The supplementation of Ionophore +0.075% FO resulted in a higher relative proportion of Firmicutes and a lower proportion of Actinobacteria in the ileum-jejunum. Lactobacillaceae was the dominant family in the jejunal, and ileal microbiotas of broilers fed diets supplemented with Ionophore, Ionophore +0.075% FO and Ionophore +0.10% FO. The supplementation of ionophore yielded higher numbers of Lactobacillaceae, Enterobactereaceae and Cloritridiaceae in the cecal. Ionophore associated with FO controlled the Lactobacillaceae, Enterobactereaceae and Cloritridiaceae families present in the cecum. Therefore, the combination of salinomycin with functional oil showed synergistic effect on performance and modulation of intestinal microbiota of broilers challenged with Eimeria.

Absorption and Distribution of Toltrazuril and Toltrazuril Sulfone in Plasma, Intestinal Tissues and Content of Piglets after Oral or Intramuscular Administration.

Piglet coccidiosis due to Cystoisospora suis is a major cause of diarrhea and poor growth worldwide. It can effectively be controlled by application of toltrazuril (TZ), and oral formulations have been licensed for many years. Recently, the first parenteral formulation containing TZ in combination with iron (gleptoferron) was registered in the EU for the prevention of coccidiosis and iron deficiency anemia, conditions in suckling piglets requiring routine preventive measures. This study evaluated the absorption and distribution of TZ and its main metabolite, toltrazuril sulfone (TZ-SO2), in blood and intestinal tissues after single oral (20 mg/kg) or single intramuscular (45 mg/piglet) application of TZ. Fifty-six piglets were randomly allocated to the two treatment groups. Animals were sacrificed 1-, 5-, 13-, and 24-days post-treatment and TZ and TZ-SO2 levels were determined in blood, jejunal tissue, ileal tissue, and mixed jejunal and ileal content (IC) by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Intramuscular application resulted in significantly higher and more sustained concentrations of both compounds in plasma, intestinal tissue, and IC. Higher concentrations after oral dosing were only observed one day after application of TZ in jejunum and IC. Toltrazuril was quickly metabolized to TZ-SO2 with maximum concentrations on day 13 for both applications. Remarkably, TZ and TZ-SO2 accumulated in the jejunum, the primary predilection site of C. suis, independently of the administration route, which is key to their antiparasitic effect.

Comparison of an injectable toltrazuril-gleptoferron (Forceris®) and an oral toltrazuril (Baycox®) + injectable iron dextran for the control of experimentally induced piglet cystoisosporosis.

BACKGROUND: Cystoisospora suis causes diarrhoeal disease and reduced weight gain in suckling piglets, and a toltrazuril-based oral suspension is available for treatment. Recently a combinatorial product with toltrazuril plus iron has been developed for parenteral application. In this study we compared the efficacy of the injectable product with the oral suspension against experimentally induced piglet cystoisosporosis. METHODS: In a randomised controlled study, three groups of piglets (n = 10-13) were treated either with a fixed dose of 45 mg toltrazuril + 200 mg gleptoferron i.m. per piglet (Forceris®) on the second day of life (study day 2; SD 2) or with 20 mg toltrazuril/kg body weight as an oral suspension (Baycox® 5%) on SD 4 or left untreated (Control group). The Baycox® and the Control group received 200 mg of iron dextran/piglet on SD 2. All piglets were infected with 1000 sporulated C. suis oocysts on SD 3. Faecal samples were taken daily from SD 7 to SD 20 to determine faecal consistency, oocyst shedding and other diarrhoeal pathogens. Body weight was recorded on SD 1 and then weekly until SD 29. Animals were observed daily for general health and after treatment for possible adverse events. RESULTS: In the Control group all animals shed oocysts for 3.1 days on average and all animals showed diarrhoea for an average of five days. Excretion peaked on SD 9 (max. 48,618 oocysts per gram of faeces). Treatment with Forceris® completely suppressed oocyst excretion. In the Baycox® group, low levels of excretion could be detected. Diarrhoea was reduced to single piglets in the treated groups. Body weight development was reduced in the Control group compared to the treated groups. Enteropathogenic bacteria (Escherichia coli, Clostridium perfringens) could be detected. All parameters related to oocyst excretion, faecal consistency and weight gain were significantly improved in the treated groups compared to the Control group without significant differences between the treated groups. Both products were safe to use. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with both the injectable (Forceris®) and the oral (Baycox®) formulation of toltrazuril in the prepatent period were safe and highly effective against experimental infection with C. suis in newborn piglets.

Treatment of cryptosporidiosis in captive green iguanas (Iguana iguana).

There are no standard guidelines for the treatment of cryptosporidiosis in reptiles. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of two cryptosporidiosis therapies in captive green iguanas. Eight green iguanas aged 2-6 years, including 6 (1 ♂ and 5 ♀) animals with chronic diarrhea, received treatment for cryptosporidiosis. The presence of Cryptosporidium sp. oocysts was determined in 8 iguanas (100%), Isospora sp. oocysts were detected in 3 animals (37.5%), and Oxyuridae eggs were observed in 5 iguanas (62.5%). The animals were divided into two therapeutic groups (A and B). Group A iguanas were administered halofuginone (Halocur, 0,50 mg/ml Intervet Productions S.A., France) at a dose of 110 mg/kg body weight (BW) every 7 days for 5 weeks. Group B animals were administered sulfadiazine and trimethoprim (Norodine Vet Oral Paste sulfadiazine 288,3 mg/g, trimethoprim 58 mg/g, ScanVet Animal Health A/S, Denmark) at 75 mg/kg BW per os every 5 days for 5 weeks and spiramycin and metronidazole (Stomorgyl, spiramycin 1500000 IU, metronidazole 250 mg, Merial, France) at 200 mg/kg BW every 5 days for 5 weeks. Both groups received hyperimmune bovine colostrum and subcutaneous fluids. Before treatment, the average number of Cryptosporidium sp. oocysts in 1 g of feces was determined at 1.71 * 105 (±313,262.44) in group A and 1.56 * 105 (±262,908.53) in group B; the average number of Isospora sp. oocysts was determined at 3.53 * 103 (±1747.38), and the average number of Oxyuridae eggs was determined at 810 (±496.74). Blood tests were performed once before treatment. The results of blood morphology and biochemistry tests before treatment revealed leukocytosis with a significant increase in heterophile and monocyte counts in all animals. Dehydration, elevated hematocrit values and low levels of Na+, Ca2+, PO4- and Cl- ions were observed in 6 iguanas. Two iguanas died during treatment. The gross necropsy revealed acute inflammation of gastric and duodenal mucosa, mucosal ecchymoses in the gastrointestinal tract, hepatomegaly and liver congestion, cholecystitis, enlarged kidneys and renal edema and congestion, cystitis, and an absence of fat bodies. Parasites were not detected in any developmental form after 40 days of therapy and during an monthly 18-month follow-up period. Effective treatment of cryptosporidiosis in reptiles minimizes the adverse consequences of disease, improves the animals' well-being and decreases euthanasia rates.

Uncommon and fatal case of cystoisosporiasis in a non HIV-immunosuppressed patient from a non-endemic country.

Cystoisospora belli (previously known as Isospora belli) is a tropical coccidian parasite sometimes leading to severe diarrhea in immunocompromised patients. Here we describe a fatal case of cystoisosporiasis in a non HIV-immunocompromised 71-year-old female with no recent travel history. Infection was either latent or potentially caused by the consumption of contaminated imported food from Asia. Diagnosis was made by microscopical detection of numerous C. belli oocysts in stools without specific staining. Treatment with TMP-SMZ slightly improved diarrhea within 3days, but dehydration subsequently led to acute decompensated heart failure and a fatal evolution. This report illustrates the possibility of severe cystoisosporiasis in non HIV-immunocompromised patients in a non-endemic country and highlights the risk of transmission through imported contaminated food consumption.

Effect of anticoccidial monensin with oregano essential oil on broilers experimentally challenged with mixed Eimeria spp.

Essential oil of oregano ( OEO: ) has proven to be a potential candidate for controlling chicken coccidiosis. The aim of the current study is to determine whether OEO and an approved anticoccidial, monensin sodium ( MON: ), as in-feed supplements could create a synergism when combined at low dosages. Day-old broiler chickens were separated into six equal groups with six replicate pens of 36 birds. One of the groups was given a basal diet and served as the control ( CNT: ). The remaining groups received the basal diet supplemented with 100 mg/kg MON, 50 mg/kg MON, 24 mg/kg OEO, 12 mg/kg OEO, or 50 mg/kg MON + 12 mg/kg OEO. All of the chickens were challenged with field-type mixed Eimeria species at 12 d of age. Following the infection (i.e., d 13 to 42), the greatest growth gains and lowest feed conversion ratio values were recorded for the group of birds fed 100 mg/kg MON (P < 0.05), whereas results for the CNT treatment were inferior. Dietary OEO supplementations could not support growth to a level comparable with the MON (100 mg/kg). The MON programs were more efficacious in reducing fecal oocyst numbers compared to CNT and OEO treatments (P < 0.05). Serum malondialdehyde and nitric oxide concentrations were decreased (P < 0.01), whereas superoxide dismutase (P < 0.05) and total antioxidant status (P < 0.01) were increased in response to dietary medication with MON and OEO. All MON and OEO treatments conferred intestinal health benefits to chickens by improving their morphological development and enzymatic activities. The results suggest that OEO supported the intestinal absorptive capacity and antioxidant defense system during Eimeria infection; however, it displayed little direct activity on the reproductive capacity of Eimeria This might be the reason for inferior compensatory growth potential of OEO compared to that MON following the challenge. Combination MON with OEO was not considered to show promise for controlling chicken coccidiosis because of the lack of a synergistic or additive effect.

Dietary oregano essential oil alleviates experimentally induced coccidiosis in broilers.

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of oregano essential oil on growth performance and coccidiosis prevention in mild challenged broilers. A total of 250 1-d-old chicks were used in a completely randomized design with 5 treatments and 5 replicates with 10 birds in each replication. Experimental treatments included: (1) negative control (NC; unchallenged), (2) positive control (PC; challenged with sporulated oocysts of Eimeria), (3) PC fed 200 ppm Diclazuril in diet, (4) PC fed 300 ppm oregano oil in diet, and (5) PC fed 500 ppm oregano oil in diet. At 22 d of age, all the experimental groups except for NC were challenged with 50-fold dose of Livacox T as a trivalent live attenuated coccidiosis vaccine. On d 28, two birds were slaughtered and intestinal coccidiosis lesions were scored 0-4. Moreover, dropping was scored in the scale of 0-3, and oocysts per gram feces (OPG) were measured. Oregano oil at either supplementation rate increased body weight gain (P=0.039) and improved feed conversion ratio (P=0.010) from d 22 to 28, when compared with PC group. Using 500 ppm oregano oil in challenged broilers diet increased European efficiency factor than PC group (P=0.020). Moreover, challenged broilers fed 500 ppm oregano oil or Diclazuril in diets displayed lower coccidiosis lesions scores in upper (P=0.003) and middle (P=0.018) regions of intestine than PC group, with the effect being similar to unchallenged birds. In general, challenged birds fed 500 ppm oregano oil or Diclazuril in diets had lower OPG (P=0.001), dropping scores (P=0.001), litter scores (P=0.001), and pH of litter (P=0.001) than PC group. It could be concluded that supplementation of oregano oil at the dose of 500 ppm in diet may have beneficial effect on prevention of coccidiosis in broilers.

Evaluation of anti-coccidial effects of 1-[4-(4-nitrophenoxy)phenyl]propane-1-one and identification of its potential target proteins in Toxoplasma gondii.

Coccidiosis affects many vertebrates worldwide, but treatment with known anti-coccidial drugs causes several adverse side effects. There is a critical need for the development and evaluation of new drugs. The anti-coccidial effect of 1-[4-(4-nitrophenoxy)phenyl]propane-1-one (NPPP), a synthetic compound, was studied in vitro and in vivo. Treatment with NPPP showed anti-Toxoplasma activity in vitro with a lower EC50 value than pyrimethamine. In ICR mice infected with Toxoplasma gondii, oral administration of NPPP for 4 days showed statistically significant anti-Toxoplasma activity with lower numbers of tachyzoite than those of the negative control (p < 0.01). NPPP also exhibited strong anti-Eimeria activity in Eimeria tenella-infected chickens when treated for 4 days with orally administered NPPP at a dose of 100 mg/kg. Potential target proteins of NPPP were analyzed by proteomic profiles of T. gondii tachyzoites. Two hypothetical proteins were identified as possible targets of NPPP, a putative ortholog of vacuolar ATP synthase subunit C and a class I S-adenosylmethionine-dependent methyltransferase. Our data show that the NPPP might be an anti-coccidial drug candidate for clinical application against coccidial infections. Future investigations will focus on identifying the function of proteins regulated by NPPP.

Risk of reactivation of toxoplasmic retinitis following intraocular procedures without the use of prophylactic therapy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis is the commonest known cause of posterior uveitis worldwide and reactivation is unpredictable. Based on results from one study, the authors proposed that antitoxoplasmic therapy should be initiated as prophylaxis for intraocular surgery in patients with toxoplasmic scars. The aim of this study is to analyse the risk of toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis reactivation following intraocular procedures. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of the medical records of a total of 69 patients who underwent intraocular surgery and presented with toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis scars. RESULTS: No patient received prophylactic antitoxoplasmic therapy. Reactivation following the surgical procedure occurred in four cases, with one at 3 months and the others respectively at 13, 14 and 17 months. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that intraocular surgery did not result in a significant reactivation rate of toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis in the absence of preoperative prophylactic antitoxoplasmic therapy.

Efficacy of in-feed preparations of an anticoccidial, multienzyme, prebiotic, probiotic, and herbal essential oil mixture in healthy and Eimeria spp.-infected broilers.

The efficacies of 5 widely used dietary supplements were investigated on performance indices, fecal oocyst excretion, lesion score, and intestinal tract measurements in healthy and Eimeria spp.-infected birds by using a comparative model. This study included 2,400 sexed Ross 308 broiler chicks that were equally divided in 2 groups: the infected group, experimentally infected with oocysts of mixed Eimeria spp. at 14 d of age, and the healthy controls. The birds in both groups were further divided equally into 6 groups, of which one was fed a basal diet and served as control without treatment and the other 5 served as experimental treatments. These 5 groups were fed 5 diets containing preparations of 60 mg/kg of anticoccidial salinomycin (SAL), 1 g/kg of multienzyme (ENZ), 1 g/kg of probiotic (PRO), 1 g/kg of prebiotic (PRE), and 40 mg/kg of an herbal essential oil mixture (EOM). Body weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR) showed significant improvement in the infected animals, which indicates that dietary supplemental regimens with SAL, ENZ, PRO, and PRE initiated in 1-d-old chicks reduced adverse effects after challenge with coccidiosis; however, chicks that were administered EOM failed to show such improvement. Uninfected chickens showed significant improvement in FCR with supplements SAL, PRE, and EOM, which signifies significant (P < 0.01) infection by supplement interactions for BW gain and FCR. In the infected group, all of the supplements reduced the severity of coccidiosis lesions (P < 0.01) induced by mixed Eimeria spp. through the middle and lower regions of the small intestines, whereas supplementation with SAL or EOM alone was effective (P < 0.01) in reducing oocyst excretion compared with the control treatment. The data indicated that use of these subtherapeutically efficacious supplements (except EOM) in broiler production can lessen the depression in growth due to coccidial challenge.

In vivo screening of four phytochemicals/extracts and a fungal immunomodulatory protein against an Eimeria acervulina infection in broilers.

BACKGROUND: Besides the anticoccidial drug resistance problem, increasing consumer concerns about food safety and residues have propelled the quest for alternative prevention and control strategies amongst which phytotherapy has gained appeal due to a renewed interest in natural medicine. OBJECTIVE: The objective was in vivo screening of four phytochemicals/extracts and a fungal immunomodulatory protein (FIP) against an Eimeria acervulina infection in broilers. ANIMALS AND METHODS: Four phytochemicals/extracts (extract from Echinacea purpurea, betaine (Betain™), curcumin, carvacrol (two different doses)), and a recombinant FIP from Ganoderma lucidum cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli were investigated for their anticoccidial potential. The experiment was conducted in a battery cage trial with 54 cages of eight birds each. Broilers infected with E. acervulina (a low and high infection dose of 10(4) and 10(5) sporulated oocysts, respectively) and treated with the phytochemicals/extracts or the FIP were compared with broilers treated with the anticoccidial salinomycin sodium (Sacox®) and with an untreated uninfected and an untreated infected control group. Coccidiosis lesion scores, body weight gains and oocyst shedding were used as parameters. RESULTS: The results showed a coccidiosis infection dose effect on the mean coccidiosis lesion scores. The phytochemicals/extracts and the FIP failed to reduce coccidiosis lesion scores and oocyst shedding, while salinomycin efficiently controlled the E. acervulina infection and enabled significantly higher body weight gains. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the selected phytochemicals/extracts and the FIP did not reduce the lesions of an experimentally induced E. acervulina infection.

Immune effects of dietary anethole on Eimeria acervulina infection.

The effects of anethole on in vitro and in vivo parameters of chicken immunity during experimental avian coccidiosis were evaluated. Anethole reduced the viability of invasive Eimeria acervulina sporozoites after 2 or 4 h of treatment in vitro by 45 and 42%, respectively, and stimulated 6.0-fold greater chicken spleen cell proliferation compared with controls. Broiler chickens continuously fed from hatch with an anethole-supplemented diet and orally challenged with live E. acervulina oocysts showed enhanced BW gain, decreased fecal oocyst excretion, and greater E. acervulina profilin antibody responses compared with infected chickens given an unsupplemented standard diet. The levels of transcripts encoding the immune mediators IL6, IL8, IL10, and tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 15 (TNFSF15) in intestinal lymphocytes were increased in E. acervulina-infected chickens fed the anethole-containing diet compared with untreated controls. Global gene expression analysis by microarray hybridization identified 1,810 transcripts (677 upregulated, 1,133 downregulated) whose levels were significantly altered in intestinal lymphocytes of anethole-fed birds compared with unsupplemented controls. From this transcriptome, 576 corresponding genes were identified. The most significant biological function associated with these genes was "Inflammatory Response" in the "Disease and Disorders" category. This new information documents the immunologic and genomic changes that occur in chickens following anethole dietary supplementation that may be relevant to host protective immune response to avian coccidiosis.

Roxarsone, inorganic arsenic, and other arsenic species in chicken: a U.S.-based market basket sample.

BACKGROUND: Inorganic arsenic (iAs) causes cancer and possibly other adverse health outcomes. Arsenic-based drugs are permitted in poultry production; however, the contribution of chicken consumption to iAs intake is unknown. OBJECTIVES: We sought to characterize the arsenic species profile in chicken meat and estimate bladder and lung cancer risk associated with consuming chicken produced with arsenic-based drugs. METHODS: Conventional, antibiotic-free, and organic chicken samples were collected from grocery stores in 10 U.S. metropolitan areas from December 2010 through June 2011. We tested 116 raw and 142 cooked chicken samples for total arsenic, and we determined arsenic species in 65 raw and 78 cooked samples that contained total arsenic at ≥ 10 µg/kg dry weight. RESULTS: The geometric mean (GM) of total arsenic in cooked chicken meat samples was 3.0 µg/kg (95% CI: 2.5, 3.6). Among the 78 cooked samples that were speciated, iAs concentrations were higher in conventional samples (GM = 1.8 µg/kg; 95% CI: 1.4, 2.3) than in antibiotic-free (GM = 0.7 µg/kg; 95% CI: 0.5, 1.0) or organic (GM = 0.6 µg/kg; 95% CI: 0.5, 0.8) samples. Roxarsone was detected in 20 of 40 conventional samples, 1 of 13 antibiotic-free samples, and none of the 25 organic samples. iAs concentrations in roxarsone-positive samples (GM = 2.3 µg/kg; 95% CI: 1.7, 3.1) were significantly higher than those in roxarsone-negative samples (GM = 0.8 µg/kg; 95% CI: 0.7, 1.0). Cooking increased iAs and decreased roxarsone concentrations. We estimated that consumers of conventional chicken would ingest an additional 0.11 µg/day iAs (in an 82-g serving) compared with consumers of organic chicken. Assuming lifetime exposure and a proposed cancer slope factor of 25.7 per milligram per kilogram of body weight per day, this increase in arsenic exposure could result in 3.7 additional lifetime bladder and lung cancer cases per 100,000 exposed persons. CONCLUSIONS: Conventional chicken meat had higher iAs concentrations than did conventional antibiotic-free and organic chicken meat samples. Cessation of arsenical drug use could reduce exposure and the burden of arsenic-related disease in chicken consumers.

Efficacy of toltrazuril 5 % suspension against Eimeria bovis and Eimeria zuernii in calves and observations on the associated immunopathology.

16 Calves were each infected with suspensions containing a mixture of approximately 230,000 Eimeria bovis and 70,000 E. zuernii oocysts, which resulted in detection of oocysts in faeces of 12 of 16 calves by day +14 after infection. On day +14 after infection calves were either treated (n = 8) with toltrazuril at 15 mg/kg body weight or with a placebo. Observations were made on the clinical condition, faecal score and liveweight of calves daily from one day post infection (pi) until 24 days pi when all calves were euthanised and examined post mortem. Samples were collected from ileum and colon for histological, immunohistochemical and gene expression studies. The study demonstrated an efficacy of toltrazuril for the treatment of E. bovis and E. zuernii infections in calves reaching 99 % (based on arithmetic mean oocyst counts in faeces) within three days of treatment and remaining at or above this level for six days. Toltrazuril did not have a significant effect on the pattern and extent of immune cellular infiltration in the mucosa of ileum and colon, but the expression of the genes coding IL-2, IL-10 and TNF-α in the ileum and TNF-α in the colon were elevated in calves treated with toltrazuril. Higher levels of oocyst shedding were significantly associated with lower expression of genes coding for IL-2, IL-10 and higher IP-10. It is concluded that toltrazuril is effective for the treatment of coccidiosis due to E. bovis and E. zuernii in calves and enables the development of a normal or enhanced immune response to infection.

Accidental and experimental salinomycin poisoning in rabbits / Intoxicações natural e experimental por salinomicina em coelhos

An outbreak of salinomycin poisoning in rabbits is described. At least 27 out of 2,000 rabbits reared on a farm died after the coccidiostatic drug sulfaquinoxaline was substituted by salinomycin in the feed. An average of 26.9ppm salinomycin was detected in the ration given to the rabbits. Clinical signs included anorexia, apathy and bradykinesia, which progressed to incoordination and recumbency. Gross lesions consisted of pale areas in the skeletal muscles. The histopathological findings showed severe necrotic degenerative myopathy in association with infiltration of neutrophils and macrophages. One rabbit exhibited similar alterations in the myocardium. Mineralization was observed in the affected skeletal muscles in some cases. In order to verify if the poisoning was due to salinomycin, 20 rabbits were divided into five groups and a ration containing the drug at doses of 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100ppm was given. The administration of doses higher than 50ppm resulted in manifestation of the clinical signs seen in the outbreak of poisoning. It was concluded, that probably an error related to the mixture of salinomycin in the feed was the cause of deaths in the spontaneous outbreak of poisoning on the rabbit farm.

Relata-se, pela primeira vez, um surto de intoxicação por salinomicina em coelhos. De 2000 animais, no mínimo 27 morreram após troca do coccidiostático sulfaquinoxalina pela salinomicina. A análise de parte da ração detectou 26,9ppm de salinomicina. Os sinais clínicos observados foram anorexia, apatia e lentidão com evolução para incoordenação dos movimentos e decúbito. As lesões macroscópicas consistiram de áreas pálidas na musculatura esquelética. O exame histopatológico evidenciou miopatia degenerativo-necrótica. Adicionalmente, verificou-se reação inflamatória constituída por neutrófilos e macrófagos. Um coelho apresentou lesões similares no miocárdio. Em alguns casos, mineralização estava presente nos músculos esqueléticos afetados. Vinte coelhos experimentais foram divididos em 5 grupos que receberam 10, 25, 50, 75 e 100ppm de salinomicina por via oral, com a finalidade de reproduzir a intoxicação. Os animais que receberam a partir de 50ppm de salinomicina apresentaram sinais clínicos semelhantes aos observados no surto espontâneo. Nossos resultados indicam que, provavelmente, erro na mistura da substância à ração causou a morte dos coelhos.

Dietary betaine affect duodenal histology of broilers challenged with a mixed coccidial infection.

The purpose of this research was to investigate effect of dietary betaine on intestinal morphology after an experimental coccidiosis. Hence a total of 189 male and female broiler chicks were randomly assigned to 9 floor cages. Chicks were fed a basal diet supplemented with 0, 0.6 or 1.2 g kg(-1) betaine. All birds were inoculated orally with Eimeria oocysts on day 28. Duodenal morphology parameters and lesions were scored by microscopic observation on intestine samples which were taken at day 42 of age. Adding 1.2 g kg(-1) betaine to diet diminished intestinal lesions (p < 0.05). Dietary supplementation with 0.6 or 1.2 g kg(-1) betaine significantly (p < 0.01) increased intraepithelial lymphocytes as well. Level of additive betaine had no effect on the ratio of villus height/crypt depth or villus surface area. Lamina propria of duodenum became thicker in the intestine of chickens which received more supplemental betaine via their diet. In conclusion, since the number of intraepithelial lymphocytes and thickness of lamina propria represent the condition of gut immune response, it seems that dietary betaine may immunomodulate the gastrointestinal tract of broilers. In addition, betaine effect on villus morphology measured later in life differed from what had been measured already earlier in life of the chicks.

Intoxicação por antibióticos ionóforos em animais:[revisão] / Ionophore poisoning in animals: [review]

O uso terapêutico de antibióticos ionóforos em medicina veterinária difundiu-se muito nos últimos anos, com conseqüente aumento no risco de intoxicação em animais. Antibióticos ionóforos são usados como coccidiostáticos e como aditivo em alimentos para animais, com o propósito de estimular o desenvolvimento e o ganho de peso. Os ionóforos mais utilizados na alimentação de animais são a monensina, lasalocida, nasarina e salinomicina. Há uma grande variação na susceptibilidade dos efeitos tóxicos dos ionóforos de acordo com a espécie animal. A intoxicação pode ocorrer quando dosagens elevadas de ionóforos são adicionadas aos alimentos, ou quando ionóforos são incluídos inadvertidamente ou acidentalmente em dosagens não corretas para determinada espécie animal. Casos de intoxicação têm sido descritos em bovinos, ovinos, suínos, eqüinos, cães e aves. Para os eqüinos os ionóforos são extremamente tóxicos. São considerados seguros quando usados nas espécies-alvo, dentro das dosagens recomendadas pelo fabricante.

The therapeutic use of ionophores in veterinary medicine has grown in the last years, with resultant increase in the risk of poisoning in animals. Ionophores are used as food additives as coccidiostacts in several animal species and growth promoter and bloat prevention in ruminants. The most often used ionophores are monensin, lasalocid, narasin and salinomycin. There is a great variation in the susceptibility to the toxic effect of ionophores in different animal species. Poisoning can occur when the dosage is too high or when not correct doses for a certain animal species are given. Cases of poisoning have been described in sheep, swine, horses, dogs and poultry. For horses ionophores are extremely toxic. The use of ionophores is only safe when used accordingly to the instructions of the manufacturer and especially for each animal species. In this paper the most important data regarding clinical-pathological and pathogenic aspects, and also the conditions in which the poisoning may occur are critically reviewed.

Delivery of antimicrobials into parasites.

To eliminate apicomplexan parasites, inhibitory compounds must cross host cell, parasitophorous vacuole, and parasite membranes and cyst walls, making delivery challenging. Here, we show that short oligomers of arginine enter Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites and encysted bradyzoites. Triclosan, which inhibits enoyl-ACP reductase (ENR), conjugated to arginine oligomers enters extracellular tachyzoites, host cells, tachyzoites inside parasitophorous vacuoles within host cells, extracellular bradyzoites, and bradyzoites within cysts. We identify, clone, and sequence T. gondii enr and produce and characterize enzymatically active, recombinant ENR. This enzyme has the requisite amino acids to bind triclosan. Triclosan released after conjugation to octaarginine via a readily hydrolyzable ester linkage inhibits ENR activity, tachyzoites in vitro, and tachyzoites in mice. Delivery of an inhibitor to a microorganism via conjugation to octaarginine provides an approach to transporting antimicrobials and other small molecules to sequestered parasites, a model system to characterize transport across multiple membrane barriers and structures, a widely applicable paradigm for treatment of active and encysted apicomplexan and other infections, and a generic proof of principle for a mechanism of medicine delivery.

[Influence of coccidiosis on productive effect in poultry husbandry]. / Wplyw kokcydiozy drobiu na efekty produkcyjne w hodowli drobiu.

Economical lisses due to clinical from of coccidiosis in chickens and prophylactic methods with special regard immunoprophy laxis were discussed.

Interactive effects of betaine and monensin in uninfected and Eimeria acervulina-infected chicks.

Three experiments (Exp.) were conducted to evaluate the interactive effects of dietary betaine (BET) and monensin (MON) in uninfected or Eimeria acervulina-infected chicks. The treatments were replicated with six (Exp. 1) or five (Exp. 2 and 3) pens of five chicks each. The experimental periods lasted 9 (Exp. 1 and 2) or 10 (Exp. 3) d each and the coccidiosis infections were established on Day 2 (Exp. 1 and 2) or Day 3 (Exp. 3) of the experiment. Average initial weight of the chicks was 101, 73, and 68 g in Exp. 1 to 3, respectively, and the initial age of the chicks was 5 (Exp. 1) or 4 (Exp. 2 and 3) d. A corn-soybean meal basal diet was used in each experiment. In Exp. 1, the effect of dietary BET (0, 0.1, or 0.5%) in uninfected or coccidiosis-infected (COC; 5 x 10(5) sporulated E. acervulina oocysts) chicks was investigated. In Exp. 2, the interactive effects of BET (0 or 0.1%) and MON (0 or 55 ppm) in uninfected or COC chicks were investigated in a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Experiment 3 was identical to Exp. 2, except the level of MON was 110 rather than 55 ppm. In Exp. 1, 2, and 3, COC reduced (P < 0.01) gain, feed intake (FI), feed efficiency (GF), and plasma carotenoid concentration (CAR) and increased (P < 0.01) lesion score (LS). In Exp. 1, gain and FI were decreased in uninfected chicks fed 0.1% BET but gain and FI were increased in COC chicks fed 0.1% BET (COC x BET quadratic, P < 0.01). Dietary BET linearly increased (P < 0.05) GF. In Exp. 2 and 3, MON increased (P < 0.01) gain, FI, GF, and CAR and decreased (P < 0.01) LS of COC chicks, but MON had no effect in uninfected chicks (COC x MON, P < 0.01). In Exp. 2, GF was increased more in chicks fed both MON and BET than in chicks fed MON (BET x MON, P < 0.06). In Exp. 3, BET increased GF of uninfected chicks fed MON and of COC chicks not fed MON (COC x BET x MON, P < 0.02). Betaine may have an effect on E. acervulina-infected chicks, but there is no conclusive evidence to indicate that the efficacy of MON is improved when fed in combination with BET.