Experimental
infections with field isolates of Eimeria meleagrimitis, E. adenoeides, E. gallopavonis, and E. dispersa in turkey poults were used to test the efficacy of
maduramicin ammonium at 2.5-10 ppm in laboratory experiments.
Infection with single or mixed species of coccidia reduced the
weight gain of unmedicated infected controls and caused 18.1-65% mortality in two experiments.
Maduramicin ammonium given at 5-7 ppm prevented mortality, significantly reduced droppings scores and oocyst passage, and improved
weight gain to near that of the unmedicated uninfected controls.
Maduramicin ammonium was tested at 4-7 ppm in a floor-pen trial lasting 10 weeks. Mortality from
coccidiosis averaged 11.9% in unmedicated controls, compared with 0.6% with 4 ppm of
maduramicin or no mortality with 5-7 ppm. Average
weight gain and feed conversion
at 10 weeks were significantly improved over unmedicated infected controls when
maduramicin ammonium was given at 5-7 ppm. These results suggest that
maduramicin ammonium is highly efficacious against field isolates of Eimeria in turkeys, especially within the range of 5-7 ppm in the feed.