An overview of Coccidiosis:
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Coccidiosis – well recognized as a cause of clinical outbreaks of diarrhea and of sub-optimal growth in
growing calves.
Coccidiosis – probably one of the most common cause of diarrhoea in calves
Cattle become infected when placed in environments contaminated by older cattle or
other infected calves
2 main pathogenic species:
Eimeria bovis and
Eimeria zuernii
Clinical disease occurs if young animals are subjected to massive infestation or if their
immune status is compromised. Sub-clinical coccidiosis is often ignored.
Both sub-clinical and clinical coccidiosis trigger economic losses
Trials prove that 61% of economic loss is triggered by sub-clinical cases*
*Efficacy of Diclazural (Vecoxan) against naturally acquired Eimeria infections in suckling beef calves and economic benefits of
treatment. (J Agneessens, L Goossens, P Veys and D Gradwell. Cattle Practice, The Journal of the British Cattle Veterinary
Association, 2005, vol. 13, p231-234)
Stages in the host and outside
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Oocysts shed into the environment need moisture and warmth to ‘sporulate’ to an
infective stage – this process takes 2 to 7 days
One oocyst ingested can multiply through several stages in the intestinal lining
and produce 16 million new oocysts which are shed back into the environment
approximately 3 weeks later
The whole lifecycle takes 3 to 4 weeks to complete
The clinical disease:
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Only a few calves in a group may show signs of clinical disease
Clinical disease in calves in the later stages of the parasites lifecycle after the damage has
been done
Clinically diseased calves show anorexia, weakness, fever, diarrhoea, dehydration, tenesmus
and signs of pain
Those surviving severe clinical coccidiosis may never fully recover and could end up as runts
and result in poor condition
The sub-clinical disease:
Most cases do not show clinical disease
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The majority of coccidiosis cases are sub-clinical, resulting in:
- Sub-optimal weight gain
- Dry rough coat
- Poor appetite
Reduced growth is the main sign and can be significant, even in the absence of obvious
clinical symptoms
The difficulties of diagnosis, combined with a lack of awareness means that coccidiosis is
often overlooked
An all year round disease
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Coccidiosis is diagnosed in cattle all year.
All calves post maternal immunity and not previously exposed to the disease are susceptible.
On farms with a known disease history strategic prevention programmes should be implemented.
The disease often occurs 2 to 3 weeks after a stress trigger event:
o Other disease
o Hygiene
o Inclement weather
o Movement
o Mixing of stock
Don’t wait to treat ….. Prevention is better than cure
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Signs of disease do not appear until the parasite’s life cycle is almost complete.
By then, most of the damage has already been done.
Since it is impossible to forecast which calf in an exposed group will develop disease, it is necessary that all
at-risk calves be treated before clinical signs are observed (metaphylactic treatment).
In an ideal situation prophylactic treatment could be given when stress trigger factors are known (e.g. Poor
hygiene, overcrowding, weaning, transportation, mixing etc.).
To prevent economic losses, calves should be treated with a suitable anti-coccidial drug where the risk of
coccidiosis is present.
After a stress trigger or if one or two calves are scouring it is advisable to dose all calves in each separate
group simultaneously.
This will reduce the infection pressure and ensure better epidemiological control of the infection.
Coccidia pave the way for other enteric pathogens.
Bacterial enteritis is often less frequent if coccidiosis is efficiently controlled.
Vecoxan® – the solution
How Vecoxan works
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Laboratory trials and field efficacy trials have proven that Vecoxan has a direct effect on
all development stages of the parasite life cycle.
Vecoxan therefore causes an interruption of the coccidial cycle and of the excretion of
oocysts.
Irrespective of the stage of infection, Vecoxan will decrease oocyst shedding.
Trials showed that the total E.bovis and E.zuernii oocyst excretion reduced by 98%*.
Because Vecoxan works solely in the gut it has no withdrawal period.
*Efficacy of Diclazural (Vecoxan) against naturally acquired Eimeria infections in suckling beef calves and
economic benefits of treatment. (J Agneessens, L Goossens, P Veys and D Gradwell. Cattle Practice, The
Journal of the British Cattle Veterinary Association, 2005, vol. 13, p231-234)
When to dose with Vecoxan®
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The disease should be identified on the farm based on herd history and clinical signs supported by faecal
examination (NB - clinical signs can be evident before oocysts are present).
Metaphylactic treatment: treating all exposed calves before the onset of clinical coccidiosis.
Calves should be given a preventative dose of Vecoxan 2 weeks after moving into a high risk environment
or when 1 or 2 calves in the group start scouring – treat all calves.
The infection must be present so that it can be treated and yet still allow the calves to develop normal
immunity.
When diarrhoea is present, the calf is clinically infected and may require supportive treatment.
May need to repeat after 3 weeks under conditions of high infection pressure and catch calves that are too
young.
Key reasons to use Vecoxan®
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Control of coccidiosis with Vecoxan results in better average weight gain (+20%)
*Efficacy of Diclazural (Vecoxan) against naturally acquired Eimeria infections in suckling beef calves and economic benefits of
treatment. J Agneessens, L Goossens, P Veys and D Gradwell. Cattle Practice, The Journal of the British Cattle Veterinary Association,
2005, vol. 13, p231-234
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Can be used in beef and dairy calves, indoors and at pasture, and at any age.
Helps prevent re-infection of pasture and housing environment – less disease challenge.
Zero day meat withdrawal period.
Well tolerated in calves.
No known adverse environmental effects.
Single dose – easily administered with a drenching gun.
Recommended dose:
4 ml per 10 kg = e.g. 80 kg calf = 32 ml of Vecoxan.
May need to repeat after 3 weeks under conditions of high infection pressure and catch calves that are too young.
Frequently asked questions
When must I dose calves - Assuming they are roughly in the similar age groups?
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Calves have good maternal immunity from the cow for the first 2 weeks of life.
Calves show symptoms of scouring earlier than lambs: from 14-17 days.
Treat when the first calves shows signs of scouring – can be as early as 17 days OR
Treat at day 21 if reared on infected pastures.
Can I prevent the disease completely?
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No, not once a farm is infected.
BUT: with the right timing, you can manage the disease without the risk of costly losses.
The goal is to kill off the organisms after immunity has been stimulated.
Must I treat more than once?
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Providing dosing was not delayed too long after onset of symptoms: if deaths have occurred and/or if
scouring persist 48 hrs. After treatment, it is fair to suspect that animals received a heavy challenge. One
can suspect that severe environmental contamination is present.
Under these conditions, it might be safer to treat all the animals in the group again 3 weeks after the first
treatment.
For More information contact your local Technical Sales Advisor, or Virbac Head office at 012 657 6000
Virbac RSA (Pty) Ltd (Reg. no. 1990/003743/07)
Tel: 012 657 6000 Fax: 012 657 6067
Private Bag X115, Halfway House, 1685
Vecoxan contains Diclazural 2.5mg/kg
Reg. no G 1405(Act 36 of 1947)