In Malaysia, helminthiasis due to strongyles such as Haemonchuscontortus and coccidiosis caused by Eimeria sp. have been reported to cause severe economic losses in small ruminants livestock industry. This paper reports the occurrence of gastrointestinal parasite infections on small ruminants situated in Seberang Perai Selatan district, Penang. Faecal samples were obtained from a total of 193 animals,randomly selected from 14 ruminant farms. The results of this survey indicates that helminthiasis and coccidiosis is rampant insheep and goat farms. The most common infections diagnosed were helminthiasis (77.72%) and coccidiosis (60.10%) followedby Moniezia sp. (5.18%). From this study, it shows that parasitic diseases can be managed by good animal husbandryin farms since high parasitic infections were observed in farms that were poorly managed based on nutrition, hygiene andbasic animal husbandry practices. The smallholders depended on health and extension services from the State Veterinary Department. A continuous monitoring of small ruminant farms by the Department of Veterinary Services will provide important information for assisting farmers with managing the spread of parasitic infections and maintaining the productivity of animals.

Immunosuppressed rats inoculated with Cryptosporidium oocysts isolated from calves' feces were treated with arprinocid, 50 mg/kg of body weight/d. As determined from differences in the mean number of cryptosporidial developmental stages per villus in treated vs control rats, arprinocid had a substantial effect on cryptosporidial activity, which was parasitistatic instead of parasiticidal. Drug-ranging experiments indicated that arprinocid was effective at 50 and 25 mg/kg/d, but not at 12.5 mg/kg/d. These results suggest that further testing of arprinocid in different animal models, or in phase-I clinical trials, is warranted.

Eimeria tenella, chickens (exper.), alpha-difluoromethylornithine promising for preventive chemotherapy, perhaps prevents schizont formation, anticoccidial effect possibly due to inhibition of putrescine biosynthesis; immunity to reinfection after treatment

Neospora caninum causes serious disease in dogs, and it, or a similar parasite, is a major cause of abortion in cattle. Little is known about the susceptibility of this protozoan to antimicrobial agents. We studied several antimicrobial agents to determine which classes might have activity against this parasite. We also determined whether activity of such agents was coccidiocidal or coccidiostatic. A 2-day of treatment, monoclonal antibody-based enzyme immunoassay and a 5-day of treatment, cell culture flask (CCF), lesion-based assay were developed to examine the ability of test agents to inhibit tachyzoite multiplication. Seven sulfonamides were examined, with the following activities observed: sulfathiazole greater than or equal to sulfamethoxazole > sulfadiazine > sulfaquinoxaline greater than or equal to sulfamethazine > sulfadimethoxine > sulfamerazine. Dapsone, a sulfone, had little activity. Six dihydrofolate reductase/thymidylate synthase inhibitors were examined, with the following activities observed: piritrexim > pyrimethamine > ormetoprim > trimethoprim = diaveridine > methotrexate. Six ionophorous antibiotics were examined; lasalocid, maduramicin, monensin, narasin, and salinomycin had equivalent activities, but alborixin was toxic for host cells at the lowest concentration examined. Three macrolide antibiotics--azithromycin, clarithromycin, and erythromycin--were examined and had equivalent activities. Two tetracycline antibiotics, doxycycline and minocycline, were examined and had equivalent activities. Three lincosamide antibiotics were examined, with the following activities observed: clindamycin hydrochloride > clindamycin phosphate > lincomycin hydrochloride. Pentamidine and 6 of its analogs were examined, and only hexamidine and 1,4-Di[4-(2-imidazolinyl)-2-methoxy-phenoxylbutane had activity. Eight miscellaneous antiprotozoal agents were examined for activity. Amprolium, metronidazole, paromomycin, and roxarsone had little activity. Arprinocid, diclazuril, nitrofurazone, and robenidine had good activity. Eleven agents were examined in both assays, whereas 32 agents were examined in the CCF assay only. The enzyme immunoassay and CCF assay provided similar results for agents that rapidly killed tachyzoites. However, agents that inhibited development, but were not rapidly fatal for tachyzoites, had better activity in the CCF assay. Of the classes of agents examined, the dihydrofolate reductase/thymidylate synthase inhibitors, 2 of the 6 pentamidine analogs, and the ionophores were coccidiocidal and the sulfonamides, macrolides, tetracyclines, and lincosamides were coccidiostatic. Of the miscellaneous agents examined, arprinocid, nitrofurazone, and robenidine were coccidiocidal and diclazuril was coccidiostatic.

Sixteen 7-week-old Holstein male calves were inoculated with sporulated oocysts of Eimeria zuernii. Four calves (controls) were euthanatized and necropsied at 14 and 20 days after inoculation (DAI). Two calves were treated with 20 mg of dexamethasone (IM) on 13, 14, and 15 DAI and euthanatized and necropsied 17 DAI and 2 calves were given similar treatments and necropsied 20 DAI. The 8 other calves were euthanatized and necropsied 20 DAI. Two were started on the anticoccidial drug decoquinate in feed 13 DAI; 2 others were given decoquinated on the same schedule plus dexamethasone on 13, 14, and 15 DAI. Two calves were given the antibiotic narasin in feed beginning 13 DAI and 2 calves were given parasin on the same schedule plus dexamethasone on 13, 14, and 15 DAI. All calves, except 2 controls necropsied 14 DAI and 4 calves given decoquinate, discharged moderate-to-large numbers of oocysts in feces and had moderate-to-severe changes in fecal consistency. Histologic examintions revealed large numbers of endogenous stages in tissues of calves treated or not treated with dexamethasone. Few endogenous stages were observed in tissues from calves that were given decoquinate or decoquinate plus dexamethasone. Calves given narasin or narasin plus dexamethasone had moderate-to-large numbers of endogenous stages in the tissues.

This study aimed to introduce some natural alternatives that can be used in the treatment and control of coccidiosis in weaned rabbits. Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera) was used for its immune enhancer effect and its content of antioxidant bioactive compounds. In the current investigation, sixty domestic male rabbits were divided into six groups with 10 rabbits in each. Group 1 (G1): noninfected and non-treated group; G2 was noninfected and supplemented with M. oleifera extract in drinking water at 1.5 g/L; G3 was infected and non-treated (control positive); G4 was supplemented with M. oleifera extract in drinking water (1.5 g/L) one week before the experimental infection till the end of the experiment; G5 was infected and treated by M. oleifera extract in drinking water (1.5 g/L) at the 5th-day post-inoculation till the end of the experiment; G6 was infected and treated with amprolium 20% (1.2 g/L) at the 5th-day post-inoculation for five successive days. Rabbits were infected by a suspension containing 104 sporulated oocysts of Eimeria magna, E. media, and E. perforans. G3 exhibited the typical symptoms of coccidiosis with a mortality rate of 30%, while clinical signs in G4, G5, and G6 were lesser than in G3 with a mortality rate of 0%. There was a significant increase in body weight and a significant decrease in oocyst count in G4, G5, and G6 compared with G3. In Addition, a significant decrease (p>0.05) in the liver enzyme (ALT), A/G ratio, serum cholesterol, and triglycerides, with a significant increase (p>0.05) in serum total protein activities in the treated groups (G4, G5, and G6) compared to the control positive group. Serum AST, creatinine, and urea did not report any changes among treatments, and they were within the normal range. While antioxidant activities in tissue showed a significant reduction in the malondialdehyde (MDA), a significant increase in SOD (superoxide dismutase), and GSH (glutathione reduced) activities in the treated groups compared to the control positive group. Histopathological changes of the intestine showed better profiles in the supplemented groups. Besides, histopathological changes in the intestine and the microscopical lesion score were significantly reduced in the challenged groups supplemented and treated with M. oleifera and amprolium. In conclusion, M. oleifera could be effective in controlling rabbit coccidiosis.

Theileria parva lawrencei, effect of halofuginone lactate against tick-induced infections in splenectomized Bos taurus, persistence of piroplasms in 3 out of 4 recovered animals