The comparative efficacy of azithromycin and sulfadimedine to treat naturally infected Holstein dairy calves with Cryptosporidium parvum

Objectives: Cryptosporidium parvum causes diarrhea in mammals such as calves. This organism invades enterocytes in several parts of intestine and causes diarrhea subsequently. Morbidity is high with this disease but mortality is generally low. However, calves need intensive supportivecare. Sick calves should be housed in a clean, warm, and dry environment. They need fluid therapy to counteract and prevent further dehydration as well as electrolytes toreplace those lost due to diarrhea. They also need nutritional support to give them energy to fight disease and repair their bodies. There are several therapeutic regimens in treating Cryptosporidiosis in calves and the present study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of azithromycin and sulfadimedineto treat naturally infected calves with Cryptosporidium parvum. Materials Methods: In the present study, the disease was diagnosed based on microscopic evaluations of fecal samples. Fifteen affected Holstein dairy calves (2 months old) were randomly divided into 3 equal groups containing azithromycin, sulfadimedine and positive control groups. In the first group, the calves were treated with azithromycin at 1250 mg/head/daily PO and second group received sulfadimidineat 30 mg/kg/daily PO for 7 consecutive days. All animals also received intravenous balanced electrolyte solutions with dextrose 5% plus sodium chloride 0.45% (3 liters daily for 3 consecutive days). Results Conclusion: A significant decrease in oocyst counts in azithromycin and sulfadimidine groups was observed compared to positive control one. Furthermore, a significant decrease was observed in group azithromycin in comparison with sulfadimidinetreated calves. The results of the present study revealed that administration of aminoglycosides such as azithromycin could improve the cryptosporidiosis in calves. Based on the other researcher’s findings on human cryptosporidiosis, it may also suggested that azithromycin can be used as a safe and effective treatment for symptomatic cryptosporidiosis but not effective in eradicating Cryptosporidial infection.