Anticoccidial activity of lasalocid (avatec)r and other anticoccidial drugs against eimeria acervulina infection with particular reference to oocyst production

The effect of Lasalocid AvetecR at a concentration of 75ppm in the feed ration and other currently marketed anticoccidial drugs in Nigerian was studied by monitoring the coccidia, oocyst production in broiler chicken. Five anticoccidial drugs: Lasalocid, halofuginone, monensin, salinomycin, and amprolium were tested against a recently isolated species of Eimeria acervulina in a battery trial utilizing 6 week-old Arbor Acre broiler chickens. There were four replicates of five chickens per replicate for each treatment. Halofuginone offered the best protection against E. acervulina infection as judged by complete blockage of oocyst production followed by Lasalocid, which allowed passage of a few number of oocysts. The remaining anticoccidial drugs failed to give complete control against E. acervulina infection as judged by passage of an appreciable larger number of coccidial oocysts. (Tropical Veterinarian: 2002 20(1): 48-51)