Anticoccidial efficacy of toltrazuril and halofuginone against Eimeria tenella infection in broiler chickens in Egypt.

The anticoccidial activities of toltrazuril and halofuginone against Eimeria tenella were tested in broiler chickens. Comparisons were made between ummedicated infected and uninfected control birds in addition to infected groups given either toltrazuril at 37.5, 75 and 150 ppm in the drinking water, or halofuginone at 1.5, 3 and 6 ppm in the feed. Both drugs were highly efficacious against E tenella. Treatment improved the bodyweight gain and survival percentage in comparison with the unmedicated, infected group. Intestinal lesions, faecal and oocyst scores and oocyst shedding in dropping were significantly reduced by both drugs. Toltrazuril gave better protection than halofuginone; 75 and 150 ppm toltrazuril in drinking water gave good protection when administered four and five days after inoculation.