Use of amprolium for the control of coccidiosis in pheasants.

Amprolium administered in feed during the first 4 weeks of life at a level of 0.0175% protected pheasants against three major pathogenic species of coccidia (Eimeria colchici, E. duodenalis, and E. phasiani) when they were exposed at 2 weeks of age. The difference was significant when mortalities were compared between medicated infected (3%) and unmedicated infected (35%) pheasants. The manufacturer's proposed level (0.0175%) and twice the proposed level (0.0350%) of amprolium had no significant effect on weight gains or mortality in the safety trial. Amprolium residues found in the muscles and livers of pheasants that received either level of amprolium did not exceed the tolerance levels for chickens and turkeys permitted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.