Acta Vet. Brno 2025, 94: 173-180
Effect of iron/anticoccidial treatment via injection on growth performance in piglets under the field conditions of a standard commercial Danish pig herd
Control of cystoisosporosis caused by Cystoisospora suis in piglets is crucial for decreasing diarrhoea and increasing the zootechnical performance. The aim of this field trial was to compare the effects of toltrazuril (TZL) treatment administered via different routes on the growth performance in suckling piglets. The study was conducted on a commercial Danish pig herd according to a parallel, randomized block design and compared two different treatment protocols: oral administration of TZL and injection of a combination product based on TZL and gleptoferron iron. In total, 763 piglets were included, with 377 piglets treated orally with TZL + iron gleptoferron. Forceris®, a combination product was used for intramuscular (i.m.) administration to 386 piglets. Faecal scoring and parasitological examinations were conducted at 11–14 days of age (DOA) and again at 18–21 DOA. Piglets treated intramuscularly presented a significantly greater average daily weight gain (ADWG), with a difference of 20 g between the groups; the average weight gain was 209 g (196–223 g), whereas the average weight gain in the orally treated animals was 189 g (175–203 g) (P = 0.035). Greater oocyst shedding and a frequency of diarrhoea were observed in piglets treated with oral TZL; however, these differences were not significant. This study demonstrated increased treatment efficacy of i.m.-administered TZL for C. suis infection, resulting in increased ADWG and is the first reported trial confirming a difference in outcomes versus those of oral TZL treatment under field conditions.
Keywords
Coccidiosis, cystoisosporosis, injectable toltrazuril, gleptoferron.
Funding
This article was funded by CEVA Animal Health and includes authors from a pharmaceutical company.
