Etiological Treatment of Protozoer Diarrhea in Neonatal Ruminants

Abstract

Diarrhea is a multifactorial symptom of infectious agents, nutritional and environmental factors. Although many prevention and treatment strategies have been developed to prevent diarrhea, diarrhea is still one of the most common problems in ruminants. Cryptosporidiosis, coccidiosis and giardiasis in newborns and young ruminants are important protozoer diseases causing diarrhea. Although the symptomatic treatment of neonatal diarrhea is similar, there are differences in the etiologic treatment. In this review, antiprotozoal drugs used in the treatment of cryptosporidiosis, coccidiosis and giardiasis are discussed.

The Role of Cryptosporidiosis in Sheep Welfare

“…Significant results have been found when using halofuginone lactate [93], which is the only one licensed treatment for cryptosporidiosis in calves, thought to interfere with the merozoite and sporozoite stages of Cryptosporidium and proven effective in the control of oocyst shedding [94]. It is an antiprotozoal drug for Eimeria and Theileria, derivative of quinazolinone [95], used both for prevention and treatment [96]. Other drugs that have also reduced the excreted number of oocysts [40] are: paramomycin, (an aminoglycoside broad-spectrum antibiotic, poorly absorbed in the gut, remaining active in the lumen [97]), metronidazole (a nitroimidazole used against giardiasis [95]), benzoxaborole (a synthetic boronheterocyclic compound that inhibits essential enzymes, used an antimalarial) and occidiofungin (a broad-spectrum glycolipopeptide with antifungal activity) [98,99].…”

“…It is an antiprotozoal drug for Eimeria and Theileria, derivative of quinazolinone [95], used both for prevention and treatment [96]. Other drugs that have also reduced the excreted number of oocysts [40] are: paramomycin, (an aminoglycoside broad-spectrum antibiotic, poorly absorbed in the gut, remaining active in the lumen [97]), metronidazole (a nitroimidazole used against giardiasis [95]), benzoxaborole (a synthetic boronheterocyclic compound that inhibits essential enzymes, used an antimalarial) and occidiofungin (a broad-spectrum glycolipopeptide with antifungal activity) [98,99]. Nitazoxanide (nitratiazole benzamide derivative, licensed in humans as treatment for cryptosporidiosis [95]), beta-cyclodextrin (a cyclic oligosaccharide made up of glucose residues [100], used as pharmaceutical excipient [101]) as well as colostrum preparations, probiotics and decoquinate (coccidiostat quinolone derivative [102]) have also been used [103].…”

“…Other drugs that have also reduced the excreted number of oocysts [40] are: paramomycin, (an aminoglycoside broad-spectrum antibiotic, poorly absorbed in the gut, remaining active in the lumen [97]), metronidazole (a nitroimidazole used against giardiasis [95]), benzoxaborole (a synthetic boronheterocyclic compound that inhibits essential enzymes, used an antimalarial) and occidiofungin (a broad-spectrum glycolipopeptide with antifungal activity) [98,99]. Nitazoxanide (nitratiazole benzamide derivative, licensed in humans as treatment for cryptosporidiosis [95]), beta-cyclodextrin (a cyclic oligosaccharide made up of glucose residues [100], used as pharmaceutical excipient [101]) as well as colostrum preparations, probiotics and decoquinate (coccidiostat quinolone derivative [102]) have also been used [103]. Therefore, the following sanitary and breeding recommendations are essential: sectioning of age groups, assurance of sufficient colostrum supply and intake, isolation of sick animals from the healthy ones, avoiding over-population, cleanliness and dryness of the environment, disinfection of premises and daily cleaning of equipment [93].…”