Experimental Eimeria necatrix infection: Comparative efficacy of sulphadimidine, amprolium and septrin in cockerels

Abstract

The efficacy of amprolium, septrin and sulphadimidine in controlling Eimeria necatrix infection was determined using experimental infected cockrels.  The infection was characterised by weight loss, anaemia, dullness, bloody diarrhoea and death.  Of the three drugs, septrin was found to be most effective in the treatment of the disease followed by sulphadimidine and amprolium as evidenced by the amelioration of clinical signs, gross and histopathological lesions and relative survival rates of treated birds.  Septrin, though not popular as an anticocoidial agent, is recommended for the treatment of coccidoisis due to E. necatrix inMaiduguri,Nigeria.  None of the drugs was able to eliminate the cocysts completely from the birds.  These findings underline the need to undertake further research into the efficacy of the other anticoccidial drugs in use as this might have dropped due to drug resistance and abuse.