Anticoccidial activity of 9-(2-chloro-6-fluorobenzyl)-6-methylaminopurine and 9-(2-chloro-6-fluorobenzyl)-6-dimethylaminopurine against Eimeria tenella, E. acervulina, and E. maxima in battery trials.

In a series of battery experiments utilizing 9-day-old White Leghorn male chicks, 9-(2-chloro-6-fluorobenzyl)-6-methylaminopurine (VM 6387) and 9-(2-chloro-6-fluorobenzyl)-6-dimethylaminopurine (VM 6736) showed remarkable anticoccidial activity against Eimeria tenella, E. acervulina, and E. maxima. The effective dose range was estimated from the results of the efficacy test against E. tenella on the basis of improvement of body weight gain and clinical signs of infection. The tests included dietary levels of 60-100 ppm of VM 6387 and 70-110 ppm of VM 6736. Both compounds gave good protection against E. acervulina and E. maxima at the same dose range. The sporulation of oocysts obtained from cecal contents of birds fed lower levels of VM 6387 was inhibited. Studies of the effects of VM 6387 on stages of the E. tenella life cycle demonstrated that the compound possesses remarkable activity at 1-5 days post-infection corresponding to the period of schizogony, as well as prolonged activity thereafter, when the parasite was undergoing gametogenesis.