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J. Zoo An. Med. 15: 11-17. 1984 poultry l9, catde,6.13 and .1.7·11.12.14 Monensin affects the coccidian life cycle at the first generation schizont stage. 19 In CONTROL OF INTESTINAL , monensin causes the reduction or COCCIDIOSIS IN CHAMOIS complete cessation of oocyst production at AND OTHER WILD various levels. For prophylactic use the USING MONENSIN following dose levels are recommended. Lambs: 10-20 mg/kg sheep fattening ration Erber, M.* resulting in approximately 0.8-1.6 mg/kg body Wiesner, H.·· weight. 2.3. 7 .8.14.21 Rietschel, W.·· Cattle: 1 mg/kg body weight. 6.13 Gatesman, T." In some species problems occurred with unpalatability if monensin was included in Introduction the ration at too high a level. 3.6 Levels of Intestinal coccidiosis, a contagious enteritis monensin of over 150 mg/kg medicated pellets, was refused by chamois, mouflon caused mainly by infection with the and ibex but accepted by some and protozoan parasite Eimeria spp., occurs species. universally, affecting both domesticated and wild mammals. Overt disease with diarrhea, There have been reports of toxicity of dysentery and even death, or chronic monensin in horses, lambs, catde and . infection with symptoms of malnourishment, Equine species are more sensitive to or subclinical infection with diminished monensin than are ruminants, showing toxie weight gain, may be present within a group effects on the mitochondria of the liver and of affected . The disease is most heart. Death has occurred in lambs given important where animals are housed or monensin at a dosage rate of 8 mg/kg body confined in small areas-the situation found weight and the LD 50 of monensin in cattle is reported as 26.6 mg/kg body in large scale management systems and in weight. 1.4.5.9.15.16.18.20 zoologie al collections. Overt disease caused by Eimeria spp. was repeatedly diagnosed at Tierpark Hellabrunn Materials and Methods in many species of wild ruminants. As During 1980-1982 fecal sampies from wild previous methods of therapeutic treatment of ruminants were collected every week in the affected cases did little to reduce the Tierpark Hellabrunn and examined for overall occurrence of disease, and initial coccidia oocysts. trials to reduce oocyst excretion by The following groups of animals were prophylactie use of amprolium in a dosage subject to strict parasitological supervision: of 40 mg/kg body weight were not 12 Chamois rupicapra satisfactory,22 a study of the prophylactic 14 Markhor /alconeri effects of monensin was undertaken in the 7 Dorcas gazelle Gazella dorcas following field trial. 9 Antidorcas marsupialis The anticoccidial compound monensin is T emporarily included in the parasitological an ionophore antibiotic produced as a examinations were fecal sampies of: fermentation product of Streptomyces 16 European mouflon ammon musimon cinnamonensis 1o. It has been proven to be 16 Alpine ibex Capra ibex ibex effective against enteric coccidiosis in 11 Nubian ibex Capra ibex nubiana 12 Mountain gazelle Gazella gazella *Institute for Comparative Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Aepyceros melampus Universi1y of Munich 4 "Tierpark Hellabrunn, Siebenbrunner SIr. 6, D-8000 Munich 90 The sampies were processed by the 11 b

a

scale: 20 IJm

Figure 1. Fresh not sporulated Eimeria oocysts shed by chamois a E. alpina b E. riedmuel/eri c E. rup,caprae d E. yakimoff-matschoulskyi

12 ZnCl 2 -NaCl flotation technique (specific showed inappetence, dull appearance, gravity: 1.3 g/cm3). One loop of the fluid diarrhea with soiling of the hindquarters and, surface was covered with a 18x18 mm in some cases, edema of the throat region coverglass and one line through the center (Fig. 2). was examined for coccidia with 160-fold The herd of chamois was kept on an magnification. A semiquantitative counting 4,240 m2 area and therefore individual technique was applied using the following therapy with sulfanomides was not always key: possible. T 0 avoid further losses in the o : no oocysts summer of 1980 monensin as given at a + : oocysts hard to find «10) dosage rate of 150 mg/kg pelleted food, + + : oocysts easy to find (11-30) resulting in an effective dosage rate of 1.5 + + + oocysts in every microscopial mg/kg body weight. In spite of individual view (>30) variation in the consumption of the medicated Eimeria spp. of chamois were food, the number of expelled oocysts differentiated according to morphological decreased and after four weeks, all fecal characteristics. 17 Coccidia of other species sampies were negative for coccidia (Fig. 3a). could not be differentiated, as most of them In Nov. of 1980, the medication of the are not described in the literature and their pelleted food was terminated and immediately specificity has not been investigated. an increasing number of oocysts was Furthermore, transmission of coccidia observed in the feces. The young stock species from one species of to showed clinical symptoms of coccidiosis and another could not be excluded. required chemotherapy (Fig. 3a). The anticoccidial antibiotic monensin was Good results were obtained with parenteral mixed into pelleted food in concentrations of application of Theracanzan" (l00ml contains 75, 100 and 150 mg/kg. The medicated 33.4g Sulfadimethoxin) 1-2ml!lOkg body pellets were fed at a level of approximately weight and simultaneous oral application of 100g/lOkg body weight, resulting in an Socatylb (100g contains SOg Formo­ effective dosage of 0.75, 1.0 and 1.5 Sulfathiazol) at a dosage rate of 4g/lOkg monensin/kg body weight. Besides medicated body weight over a period of 3-5 days. Again pellets, hay and green forage was fed ad lib. monensin medicated pellets were fed at the Additionally, according to season, leafed same concentration, and the shedding of branches, vegetables, fruit, silage, brewers oocysts ceased. grains and a mixture of concentrated foods Same animals ate less medicated food without medication were offered. when monensin was added at the rate of 150 mg/kg pellets, resulting in reduced Results weight gain. To increase the palatability of All species of ruminants from which fecal the medicated food, the concentration of sampies were collected, showed infection monensin was reduced to 75 mg/kg pellets with Eimeria spp. before monensin-medicated in the summer of 1981. All the animals pellets were fed. The coccidia of chamois accepted the offered ration, but again oocyst were identified as: Eimeria alpina (Fig. 1a), counts in the feces increased and after two E riedmue!lerie (Hg. 1b), E rupicapra (Fig. months diarrhea occurred, caused by 1c) and Eyakimoff-matschoulskyi (Hg. 1d). intestinal coccidiosis requiring individual The percentage of E alpina oocysts was chemotherapy (Hg. 3b). Increasing the high in feces of chamois with clinical percentage of monensin in the pellets to 100 symptoms. High los ses of 4-6. month old mg/kg caused a sharp reduction in the animals as a result of intestinal coccidiosis oocyst counts and clinical symptoms were observed in chamois. The animals disappeared. Although monensin was fed 13 Figura 2. Young chamois suffering Irom intestinal coccidiosis showing eduma 01 the throat region. 14 150 150

+++

++ a + o

7 8 9 10 11 12 2 3 4 5 6 month

1980 1981 year

I-" CJ1 75 100 100

+++ . I' I '- ++ I \ I'\' \ I "\ I" , , b I \ I \ , + " ~, ' / I I o I • • , • • I

7 8 9 10 11 12 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 month

1981 1982 year

o no oocysts + oocysts hard to lind «10) ++ oocysts easy to lind :11-30) Figure 3. Inlluence 01 mbnensin (150, 75, 100 mg/kg pellets) on +++ oocysts in every view (>30) oocyst shedding 01 chamois. I application 01 monensin oocyst counts in young stock continuously in the ration, in the springtime higher intake of monensin than the average of 1982 the number of oocysts shed by the of 1 mg/kg body weight, although no losses young stock increased, but neither maximal by monensin toxicity, nor secondary effects, oocyst counts nor clinical symptoms were nor reduced fertility could be observed during observed, nor was any chemotherapy the 3-year period. necessary (Fig. 3b). Of the five species of coccidia to affect Similar results were seen in the other wild chamois in the alpine region, four species of ruminants fed with monensin­ species were identified in our stock. 17 This medicated rations, Le. palatability of 150 can be explained by the fact that the mg/kg medicated food was lessened, but breeding stock of the herd was captured in oocyst excretion terminated. Mouflon and the wild. ibex were especially resistant to the The fact that even three years of medicated pellets, whereas and permanent use of monensin could not gazelIes accepted the medicated ration. The eliminate coccidia in the ruminants may be use of monensin at the rate of 75 mg/kg desirable because it results in minor infection pellets resulted again in increased oocyst of the stock, aiding in developing immunity counts, whilst 100 mg/kg medicated pellets without clinical symptoms, as is weil known resulted in good effects, both in regard to in poultry. 17 The drug monensin proved to palatability and to coccidiostatic efficiency. be suitable for control of coccidiosis in Ouring the 3-year period of using monensin, various species of ruminants kept in Tierpark no los ses by intoxication or secondary Hellabrunn. Development of resistance-as effects, or reduced fertility could be observed in many other coccidiostatic observed. compounds-is not reported for monensin so far. This problem could be avoided by Discussion changing the coccidiostatic drug from time to Oata described in the literature conceming time. the prophylactic use of monensin in ruminants cannot be compared with our results without reservation. According to our Summary experience, feeding monensin at the rate of Intestinal coccidiosis of wild ruminants in 1 mg/kg body weight, given over periods up Tierpark Hellabrunn caused frequent losses to 10 months is effective in controlling of young stock, particularly in chamois. coccidisis of wild ruminants under certain Individual chemotherapy with sulfonamides conditions in zoological gardens. This dosage was successful, but could not solve the approaches the 0.8-1.6 mg/kg body weight problem in groups of animals, kept on large recommended for monensin in lambs and areas. 1.0 mg/kg in calves.2.3·6.7.8.13.14.21 In contrast The pelleted food was medicated with to the experience in lambs and cattle, monensin at three levels, 75, 100 and 150 unpalatability of the medicated ration must mg/kg, and was offered over periods of 5-10 be considered in many species of zoo months in effective doses of about 0.75, 1.0 ruminants. The best results were obtained and 1.5 mg monensin/kg body weight. by offering the medicated ration at a rate of Satisfactory results were obtained when 100 mg/kg pellets. It should be noted that feeding 1 mg/kg body weight in nine species individually in all species, intake of the of wild ruminants, with regard to medicated feed could not be controlled, coccidiostatic effect and palatability of the particularly if animals were kept in groups in medicated food. OuTing three years of use of large enclosures. It therefore cannot be monensin, no toxicities nor symptoms of discounted that some of the animals had a incompatability were observed. 16 Acknowledgement 9. Glover, G.J. and Wobeser, G.: Monensin The authors thank Prof. Dr. M.A. toxicity in a captive white-tailed deer ( Hasslinger, Institute for Comparative virginianus), J. Zoo An. Med. 14: 13-16,1983. T ropical Medicine and Parasitology of the 10. Haney, M.E., Jr., and Hoehn, M.M.: Veterinary Faculty of the University of Monensin, a new biologically active compound. I. Munich for his help in the fecal Discovery and isolation, Antimicrob.Agents examinations. Chemother. 349-352, 1967. 11. Horton, G.M.J., and Stockdale, P.H.G.: Products Mentioned in Text Effects of amprolium and monensin on oocyst a. Theracanzan-Therapogen, MSD discharge, feed utilization, and ruminal b. Socatyl-Ciba-Geigy metabolism of lambs with coccidiosis, Am. J. Vet. Res. 40: 966-970, 1979. References 12. Leek, RG., Fayer, R, and McLoughlin, D.K.: Effect of monensin on experimental 1. Bergstrom, RC., and Jolley, WR: infections of Eimeria ninakohlyakimovae in lambs, Toxicity and therapeutic value of monensin in Am. J. Vet. Res. 37: 339-341, 1976. ovine coccidiosis, Vet. Med. Small An. Clin. 72: 1052-1053, 1977. 13. McDougald, L.R: Monensin for the prevention of coccidiosis in calves, Am. J. Vet. 2. Bergstrom, RC., and Maki, L.R: Res. 39: 1748-1749, 1978. Coccidiostatic action of monensin fed to lambs: 14. McDougald, L.R, and Dunn, W.J.: Efficacy body weight gains and feed conversion efficiency, of monensin against coccidiosis in lambs, Am. J. Am. J. Vet. Res. 37: 79-81. 1976. Vet. Res. 39: 1459-1462, 1978. 3. Calhoun, M.C., Carroll, L.H., Livingston, 15. Matsuoka, T.: Evaluation of monensin C.W., and Shelton, M.: Effect of dietary monensin on coccidial oocyst numbers, feedlot toxicity in the horse, J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 169: 1098-1100, 1976. performance and carcass characteristics of lambs, J. An. Sei. 49: 10-19, 1979. 16. Mollenhauer, HA, Rowe, L.D., Cysewski, 4. Collins, E.A, and McCrea, C.T.: Monensin S.J., and WitzeI, D.A: Ultrastructuralobservation sodium toxicity in cattle, Vet. Rec. 103: 386, in ponies after treatment with monensin, Am. J. Vet. Res. 42: 35-40, 1981. 1978. 17. Pellerdy, L.P.: Coccidia and Coccidiosis, 5. Dover, 8., Stayanov, K., Dzhurov, A, and Dilov, P.: Acute and subacute toxicity of 2nd ed., Berlin, Paul Parey, 1974. monensin in lambs, Veterinarnomed. Nauki 17: 18. Potter, E.L., and Muller, RD.: Rumensin 17-25, 1980. for growmg cattle on pasture, Proc. Monensin 6. Fitzgerald, PR, and Mansfield, M.E.: Symp., Eagle River, Ontario, 1979. Efficacy of monensin against bovine coccidiosis in 19. Reid, W.M., Kowalski, L., and Rice, J.: Young Holstein-Friesian calves, J. Protozool. 20: Anticoccidial activity of monensin in floor pen 121-126, 1973. experiments, Poult. Sei. 51: 139-146, 1972. 7. Fitzgerald, PR, and Mansfield, M.E.: 20. Rodgers, PAM., and Hop Cowdery, M.J.: Ovine coccidiosis, effect of the antibiotic Monensin ketosis and nitrate toxicity in cows, monensin against Eimeria ninakohlyakimovae and Vet. Rec. 106: 311-312, 1980. other naturally occurring coccidia of sheep, Am. 21. Sehlolaut, W., Agde, K., and Valder, J. Vet. Res. 39: 7-10, 1978. W.A: Untersuchungen uber den Einfluss von 8. Foreyt, W.J., Gates, N.L., Wescott, RB.: Rumensin auf die Mastleistung von Effects of lasalocid and monensin against Sehlaflammem, Zuchtungskd. 50: 172-175, 1978. experimentally induced coccidiosis in confinement­ 22. Wiesner, H.: Zur Bestandsprophylaxe bei reared lambs from weaning to market weight, Hochgebirgstieren in Gefangenschaft, Verh. Ber. Am. J. Vet. Res. 40: 97-100, 1979. Erkerg. Zootiere, 18: 89-93, 1976.

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