This study aimed to investigate the effects of
halofuginone lactate (100 mug/kg BW) on treatment and prevention of
cryptosporidiosis in lambs. It consisted of three field trials. The first trial was designed to assess the efficacy of
halofuginone in treating lamb diarrhoea caused by
cryptosporidiosis, and in preventing the disease, using two schemes;
halofuginone given for seven and for three consecutive days respectively.
Halofuginone was effective in the treatment of diarrhoea caused by
cryptosporidiosis (P < 0.01). In addition,
halofuginone administered as a 7-day treatment was significantly (P < 0.05) more effective than a 3-day treatment in preventing diarrhoea in the infected flocks. The second trial was designed to evaluate the preventive effect of
halofuginone, which was administered for 7 days in lambs infected with
cryptosporidiosis, on diarrhoea incidence, oocyst shedding and
body weight gain.
Halofuginone significantly (P < 0.01) reduced the diarrhoea incidence, the time of oocyst shedding and the mean intensity of shedding, but did not affect
body weight gain. The third trial was designed to examine the ability of
halofuginone to reduce the death rate in flocks with
cryptosporidiosis.
Halofuginone treatment was effective in preventing and in reducing the death rate of
cryptosporidiosis in these flocks.