Anticoccidial effect of monensin against Eimeria mitis and Eimeria dispersa

Four chick and five poult trials were conducted in order to investigate the anticoccidial efficacy of monensin against Eimeria mitis in chickens and Eimeria dispersa in turkeys. The chicks were fed a basal diet with either 0 or 100 ppm of monensin. The poults were fed a basal diet with either 0 or 60 ppm of monensin. Two days after the initiation of each experiment, the chicks and poults were crop-intubated with oocysts of E. mitis and E. dispersa, respectively. A group was also included that was not infected and not medicated. Growth and feed intake were recorded. At 6 or 7 days postinoculation, the birds were killed by cervical dislocation and were scored for the incidence and severity of intestinal abnormalities. The Eimeria mitis infection reduced (P less than .01) gain and the feed:gain ratio, compared with uninfected birds; the E. dispersa infection only reduced (P less than .05) gain. Although well-defined, discrete lesions were not observed, marked intestinal abnormalities were noted in birds infected with either E. mitis or E. dispersa. Also, the infected, unmedicated birds had increased (P less than .01) intestinal scores compared with uninfected birds or those with infection but treated with monensin. Monensin eliminated the reduction in gain and feed efficiency seen in the infected birds. The infected birds fed monensin had intestinal scores, gain, and feed:gain ratios similar (P greater than .10) to those for the birds that were not infected and that did not receive medication.