TREATMENT OF CHICKEN CAECAL COCCIDIOSIS WITH SULFAMONOMETHOXINE IN A TRIAL CONDUCTED IN A BATTERY HOUSE

Abstract

The treatment of chicken caecal coccidiosis with sulfamonomethoxine, at a concentration
of 0.05 % in drinking water for 3 days, was performed on different days post oocyst inoculation.162 chickens were divided into 6 groups, 3 cages per group with 9 chicken each group. Chickens in groups 1-5 obtained 7x104 oocysts of Eimeria tenella, via a stomach tube. Chickens in group 1, 2 and 3 were treated on days 1-3, 2-4 and 3-5 post inoculation respectively. Group 4, a control group was infected but unmedicated. Group 5 was uninfected and unmedicated and group 6 was studied for drug toxicity observation. The parameters of the experiment were lesion scoring, mortality, haematocrit and oocyst counts. The results revealed that group 1 was the most effective treatment regime. No obvious histopathological change of the vital organs were seen in the toxicity testing group.