The efficacy of
amprolium,
monensin, and
salinomycin in preventing
coccidiosis in bobwhite quail was studied using a mixed inoculum of equal numbers of Eimeria dispersa and E. lettyae. A total dosage per quail of 10(6) sporulated oocysts was chosen because this dosage gave a good (77%) depression of
weight gain from Day 18 to Day 24. Levels of .008%
monensin or .0055%
salinomycin were the most effective for prevention of
coccidiosis as evaluated by
body weight gains. These levels significantly reduced parasite numbers in the duodenum with
monensin administration and in both the duodenum and ileum with
salinomycin administration.
Monensin reduced parasite numbers in the illeum significantly in one experiment and in a second.
Amprolium was ineffective for prevention of
coccidiosis, as evaluated by
body weight gains.
Amprolium was also ineffective in consistently reducing parasite numbers in the duodenum and ileum. Both
monensin and
salinomycin had a reasonable safety margin in quail. Levels of
monensin of .016%, twice the proposed level, significantly reduced
body weight at 14 days of age compared with unmedicated controls or quail given .008%
monensin. By 28 days, however, this effect was no longer significant. Levels of
salinomycin at the proposed level of .0055% significantly reduced
body weight at 14 days of age compared with unmedicated controls. By 28 days, however, this effect was no longer significant in quail given .0055% or .00825%
salinomycin, although in quail fed .011%
salinomycin body weights remained significantly lower (16.5%) at that date. There were no detectable
monensin residues in the liver of quail fed a ration containing .008%
monensin for 8 wk.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)