Efficiency of 50% nifursol for the control of trichomoniasis in pigeons.

摘要

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of 50% nifursol for the control of trichomoniasis in experimentally infected pigeons. The experiment was carried out under laboratory conditions on 6 groups of racing pigeons (24 pigeons/group) divided into 3 subgroups of the same number of birds. The pigeons were infected with a 48-hour culture of Trichomonas gallinae. The course of infection was determined by conducting parasitological examination of crop swabs 7 days after infection. Group I consisted of non-treated, infected birds, while Groups II, III, IV and V received 50% nifursol at 150, 300, 600 and 1200 mg/kg of feed, respectively. Group VI also received 20% metronidazole (reference drug) at a dose of 3 g/litre of water. The efficiency of the drug was evaluated based on the clinical observations and parasitological examinations conducted after 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 weeks from the day of infection. After administration of the drug, 10 pigeons from each group were randomly selected for haematological and biochemical examinations. The results showed a high efficiency of 50% nifursol at 600 and 1200 mg/kg of feed. A dose of 600 mg/kg of feed administered for 4 weeks was efficient for the treatment of T. gallinae invasion. The results obtained in the clinical, biochemical and haematological studies proved that even long-term (up to 6 weeks) administration of 50% nifursol at a dose not exceeding 600 mg/kg of feed is safe to the birds and with no adverse effects on the organs of pigeons..