How ionophores

control coccidiosis
in broiler breeder
DR. UMAR AZIZ
introduction

 For more than 40 years, the broiler industry has used ionophores to manage coccidiosis, a
widespread disease caused by parasites of the genus Eimeria that occur widely in poultry
flocks.1 The first ionophore to be used for this purpose was monensin.  It was introduced in
1971 and found to be extremely effective against all species of Eimeria that infect the fowl.
 Monensin was followed by lasalocid, narasin, salinomycin and semduramicin, which are
other ionophores that have a similar mode of action.
 Technically, ionophores are antibiotics because they are produced as a by-product of
bacterial fermentation.  An important distinction, however, is that ionophores are unrelated
to the antibiotics used to increase the rate of weight gain and improve feed efficiency.
 Ionophores are not used in human medicine and, therefore, cannot contribute to perceived
issues relating to drug resistance in man.
 Ionophores have a fascinating and unique mode of action against coccidia that differs from
the synthetic drugs (commonly known as chemicals) that are used to control coccidiosis. 2,3 
Ionophores  kill the parasite before it is able to infect the bird
transmission

 The transmission stage for coccidia is the oocyst, a microscopic, egg-shaped cyst
that can survive in poultry litter.
  usually occurs when birds peck at litter, oocysts are crushed in the gizzard and
release undamaged sporocysts.  Digestive enzymes then liberate the sporozoites
into the lumen of the intestine.  The lumen is a hostile environment and to survive,
the sporozoites must rapidly find and penetrate epithelial cells.  It is during this
period that a window is present and ionophores are able to exert their
coccidiocidal effect.
How inophore work

 Once an ionophore is taken up in the membrane of the sporozoite, however, it

effectively short-circuits the sodium pump. Thus, as fast as the sodium pump
removes Na+, the ionophore allows it to leak back in again.  The parasite’s cell
responds by continuing to pump out Na+, but eventually runs out of energy.  This
results in an uncontrollable uptake of water into the sporozoite, which swells up
and then bursts
 but these birds may develop symptoms as soon as they are transferred to the
breeder
 house. If an anticoccidial is used during rearing, then products such as amprolium
are more advantageous.
Inophores name

 Semduramicin
 Monensin
 lasalocid
 salinomycin
 narasin
 Maduramicin
 Use one of them in poultry feed