Influence of <i>Eimeria</i> spp. and <i>Clostridium perfringens</i> Infection on Growth Performance and Toltrazuril Residues in Chickens
Coccidiosis and necrotic enteritis are among the most common diseases affecting poultry, with economic impact due to reduced production and the costs of treatment and prevention. Eimeria invasion contributes to gut damage that promotes the growth of other harmful pathogens, such as <i>Clostrid...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Animals |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/2/216 |
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| Summary: | Coccidiosis and necrotic enteritis are among the most common diseases affecting poultry, with economic impact due to reduced production and the costs of treatment and prevention. Eimeria invasion contributes to gut damage that promotes the growth of other harmful pathogens, such as <i>Clostridium perfringens</i>. Coccidiostats, with toltrazuril as an example, are widely used to control these infections. In this study, we assessed the effects of <i>Eimeria</i> spp. infection and coinfection with <i>Eimeria</i> spp. and <i>Clostridium perfringens</i> on chicken weight and toltrazuril concentrations, along with two metabolites—toltrazuril sulfoxide and toltrazuril sulfone—using liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The analysis of liver and muscle samples showed lower levels of residues in groups challenged with <i>Eimeria</i> spp. In the case of combined <i>Eimeria</i> and <i>C. perfringens</i> infection, no significant differences were observed. These findings suggest that the combination of <i>Eimeria</i> and <i>C. perfringens</i> does not significantly alter the residue levels of toltrazuril and its metabolites, providing valuable insight into the pharmacokinetics of toltrazuril in poultry under infection conditions. This research contributes to optimizing drug use and residue management in poultry production. |
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| ISSN: | 2076-2615 |