The Safety and Physiologic Effects of the Anticoccidial Drugs Monensin and Clazuril in Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis)

• Published in: Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine Vol. 23; no. 2; pp. 214 - 221
• Main Authors: Carpenter, James W., Novilla, Meliton N., Hatfield, Jeff S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: American Association of Zoo Veterinarians 01-06-1992
• Subjects: Birds; Coccidiosis; Coccidiostats; Dosage; Food consumption; Infections; Parasites; Veterinary drugs; Wildlife; Zoos
• ISSN: 1042-7260; 1937-2825

Coccidia (Eimeria gruis and E. reichenowi) are common parasites of whooping (Grus americana) and sandhill (G. canadensis) cranes. Although Eimeria spp. infections are generally a disease of the intestinal tract, this parasite can become extraintestinal (disseminated visceral coccidiosis [DVC]) in cranes. In DVC, granulomatous nodules may form in many tissues and organs or may result in bronchopneumonia, hepatitis, myocarditis, splenitis, and enteritis. Because crane chick mortality from DVC at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center increased in 1988, suggesting that the parasite may be developing a resistance to the coccidiostat amprolium, a target animal safety study using two coccidiostats, monensin and clazuril, was conducted on 27 subadult sandhill cranes. Results of this study indicate that both monensin and clazuril are safe in cranes when administered at 1 ×, 2 ×, and 5 × the dosage approved for use in poultry.