Analysis of the phenotypes in field populations ofEimeria acervulinaexpressing dual drug‐resistance to decoquinate and clopidol

Abstract

Two strains of Eimeria acervulina were derived from samples collected from broiler houses where chicken flocks were being medicated with decoquinate (a quinolone); previous flocks in the same houses had been medicated with clopidol (a pyridone). The strains were found to be resistant to both drugs. In the laboratory, a dichotomous series of selection passages through chicks medicated with decoquinate or clopidol was used to demonstrate that both the original field populations of E, acervulina included at least some parasites that expressed simultaneous resistance to both drugs, rather than comprising subpopula-tions that were each resistant only to one drug or the other. This is the first time that a phenotypic analysis of the individuals in an eimerian population has been carried out. The relevance of this finding to the efficacy of Lerbek, a synergistic mixture of clopidol and methyl benzoquate (another quinolone), originally introduced in an attempt to delay the emergence of drug-resistant coccidia, is discussed. It is concluded that Lerbek would have been completely effective if resistance to neither of its components had already emerged before Lerbek was launched; some efficacy would also have been retained if resistance to only one of its components had already developed. However, if resistance to both components had already developed, the dual resistance of some individual parasites would have rendered Lerbek less effective than if all parasites were resistant only to one or the other of its components.