Anticoccidial activity of eight compounds in domestic mink

Eight compounds were tested for anticoccidial activity in 44 domestic mink (Mustela vision). A treatment group consisted of 4 mink exposed to 2 inoculumns of sporulated oocysts on day 0 and day 22 of the experiments. Each inoculum contained 2,000 Isospora laidlawi, 2,000 Eimeria vision, and 2,000 Eimeria sp. One compound was administered to each treatment group; a control of 4 juvenile mink and a control group of 4 adult mink were designated. All treatments were given each day for 30 days after the initial exposure, except lincomycin which was administered for 14 days. In juvenile mink (3 to 4 months old), amprolium at dose level of 0.012% and sulfaquinoxaline at dose level of 0.024% in the water inhibited almost all of the oocyst production when compared with that of the control group. Lincomycin injected at dose level of 5 mg/day/mink was ineffective in suppressing oocyst production. In adult mink (2 to 4 years) monensin sodium at dose level of 0.012% a commercial antiobiotic-sulfonamide mixture at dose level of 0.49%, and lasalocid solium at dose level of 0.01% in the feed inhibited almost 100% oocyst production. Lasalocid sodium at dose level of 0.10% in the feed was lethal to 3 to 4 mink. Sulfamethazine at dose level of 0.014% and sulfathiazole at 0.014% in the feed had limited anticoccidial activities.