Anticoccidial efficacy of sulfaquinoxaline and amprolium at field poultry farms in Ludhiana (Punjab)

The present study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of amprolium and sulfaquinoxaline, both individually and in combination, in field conditions at three broiler farms located in the Ludhiana district of Punjab. The confirmation of coccidiosis at the farms involved screening of pooled droppings and intestines from deceased birds. The morphometric measurement of the fully sporulated oocysts indicated the presence of Eimeria tenella, E. acervulina, E. necatrix and E. maxima. In the first trial, a total of 3500 birds were divided into two groups. The birds of group I were treated with amprolium, while group II was treated with a combination of amprolium, sulfaquinoxaline, pyrimethamine, and ethopabate. The oocyst per gram (OPG) count was measured on the pretreatment day (0 day) and at various post-treatment intervals (3, 5, 7, 14, and 21 days) in both groups. The percentage reduction in oocyst count in birds of group I was 14.89, 11.25, 47.05, 63.25, 96.64% and in group II birds was 45.07, 62.58, 79.25, 90.91, 97.11% on days 3, 5, 7, 14 and 21, respectively. The efficacy of the combination of amprolium and sulfaquinoxaline was further evaluated at two broiler farms and it demonstrated the similar pattern of the result as in trial I. To summarize, the findings of the present study revealed that the combined therapy of amprolium and sulfaquinoxaline, as opposed to a single drug (amprolium) showed better efficacy for mixed Eimeria infections.