Pharmacotherapy of Coccidiosis

in Cattle, Goat and Pigs

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Learning Tasks
• By the end of this session students are expected to be able to:

• Define Coccidiosis disease in Cattle, Goat and Pig

• List signs and symptoms of Coccidiosis in Cattle, Goat and Pig

• Describe pharmacological treatment of Coccidiosis in Cattle, Goat and Pig

• Describe dose, dosage and course of drugs used to treat Coccidiosis in Cattle, Goat and Pigs

• List contraindications of drugs used to treat Coccidiosis in Cattle. Goat and Pig

• List common side effects and adverse effects of drugs used to treat Coccidiosis in Cattle, Goat and Pigs

• Describe Control and Prevention of Coccidiosis in Cattle, Goat and Pigs

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Class activity

What is Coccidiosis?

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 • Coccidiosis
o Cocciodiosis, a protozoan parasite disease of cattle, caused by
the genus Eimeria
o The most common species affecting cattle include E. bovis, E
zuernii, and E auburnensis
o The disease is common in young cattle up to two years old.

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Signs and Symptoms of Coccidiosis in Cattle
• Watery feces, with little or no blood and shreds of
epithelium and mucus
• Animals may die from secondary bacterial
complications or concurrent infections (e.g. corona
virus infection) that develop ;
o Fever
o become anorectic
o depressed
o dehydrated
o loss of weight
• Eimeria zuernii is highly pathogenic causing bloody
diarrhea

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Pharmacological Treatment of Coccidiosis in
Cattle
• Amprolium 10 mg/kg, q 24 h, PO for 5 days, or

• Sulfamethazine 50-110 mg/kg, q 24 h, PO for 4 days, or

• Decoquinate 167g/10kg of feed for 28 days, or

• Monensin 100-360 mg/head/day PO for 7 days

o Do not mix with drugs having similar action
o Don‟t treat animals with tiamulin for at least 7 days
o Avoid direct contact with skin and wash thoroughly after handling the product

• Supportive therapy
o Fluids (Most effective treatment for the already sick animal)
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Contraindications in Treatment of Coccidiosis
in Cattle

• Sulfamethazine
o Allergy and hypersensitivity

• Decoquinate
o Do not use in cases of hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the
excipients

• Monensin
o Hypersensitivity to Monensin

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Common Side Effects and Adverse Drug Reactions
of Drugs Used in Treatment of Coccidiosis in Cattle
• Monensin
o high dose may result in reduced weight gain,

o Reduced voluntary feed intake

o Reduced milk fat percentage

o Increased incidence and treatment of cystic ovaries and metritis

o Reduced conception rates

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Class activity

What are Preventive and Control

Measures for Coccidiosis in Cattle?

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 Preventive and Control Measures for Coccidiosis in
Cattle
• Prophylaxis
o Amprolium 5-10 mg/kg q 24 h for 21 days, PO
o Monensin 1 mg/kg in feed for 30 days
• Control
o Housing and ventilation deficiencies should be corrected
o Do not mix different age groups of calves, avoid fecal contamination of
feed.
o Isolation of the affected animal(s) to prevent increased contamination of
the premises

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Key Points
• Coccidiosis is caused by protozoan parasites of Eimeria species

• The most effective treatment for the already sick cattle is supportive
therapy (fluids) and antibiotics to ward off secondary infections

• Prevention focuses on preventing fecal contamination of the cattle‟s

environment, feed and water

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 • What is Coccidiosis?
• What are the common signs and symptoms of Coccidiosis?
• What is the pharmacological treatment of Coccidiosis?
• What are the control measures against Coccidiosis?

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