Effect of Sulfaguanidine on the Course of Infection in Chickens with Eimeria tenella

Abstract

Two expts., involving 388 chickens 16 days old, were conducted under controlled conditions. In expt. 1, 0.5% conc. of sulfa-guanidine in the mash was fed to 6 groups of birds; the 1st group started on treatment 1 day prior to inoculation, groups 2 to 6 on the 1st, 2d, 3d, 4th and 5th days, respectively, after inoculation. In expt. 2, 1.2% conc. of sulfaguanidine in the mash was fed to 7 groups of birds, each group receiving treatment at a different time, beginning 1 day prior to inoculation and each day thereafter up to and including the 5th day after inoculation. Each group of birds received treatment for 7 consecutive days, and was then held on non-medicated mash for 7 days more to ascertain if any interference in the course of the infection might result from the medication. The feeding of 0.5% sulfaguanidine mash decidedly benefited those birds treated prior to and as late as 2 days after inoculation. The ami. of blood passed by these groups of birds during the period of treatment and the number of deaths recorded at the termination of the expt. were considerably smaller than for the other groups. The feeding of mash containing 1.2% of sulfaguanidine mash prevented deaths among those groups of birds placed on treatment 1 day prior to, on the day of, and 1 day after inoculation. Administration of this mash as late as the 3d day after infection markedly reduced mortality. The reduced amts. and sometimes the delayed appearance of blood during the treatment period in the droppings of those groups treated 1 day prior to inoculation, on the day of inoculation, and 1 day after inoculation, and the reappearance of small amts. of blood in the droppings of the above groups during the week following withdrawal of medicated mash, demonstrate the possible coccidiostatic action of the drug.