Literature Survey

H. C. Mundt, S. Mundt-Wüstenberg, A. Daugschies, A. Joachim
Efficacy of various anticoccidials against experimental porcine neonatal isosporosis
Received: 10 August 2006 / Accepted: 14 August 2006, Springer-Verlag 2006

HEYLEN, P., DE SMET, K., VYT, P., GEVAERT, D., (2004):
Routine coprological confirmation of the history of isosporosis in 10-18 day old piglets
Vlaams Diergeneeskundig Tijdschrift, 2004, 73, 420-423
(PDF-File, 106 KB)

GUALDI, V., F. VEZZOLI, M. LUINI and L. NISOLI (2003):
The role of Isospora suis in the etiology of diarrhea in lactating piglets
Proc. Soc. Italiana di Patol. ed Allev. dei Suini , Italy

KRAMER, L., A. SCALA, G. SANNA and A., PIAIA (2002):
Isospora suis: Studio epidemiologico negli allevamenti suini in Sardegna
Proc. Soc. Italiana di Patol. ed Allev. dei Suini, Italy

VEZZOLI, F., V. GUALDI, M. LUINI and L. NISOLI (2002):
Osservazioni preliminari sulla presenza di Isospora suis in piglets con diarroea
Proc. Soc. Italiana di Pat. ed Allev. die Suini Congr., Italy

KOUDELA, B. and S. KUCEROVÁ (1999):
Role of aquired immunity and natural age resistance on course of Isospora suis coccidiosis in nursing piglets
Proc. 17th Int. Conf. WAAVP

MAH, C.K.  and P.Y. CHOO (1997):
An observation in the control of porcine neonatal coccidiosis in Malaysia 
Proc. 9th Vet. Assoc. Malaysia Scientific Congr, Malaysia

LARSEN, K. (1995):
Isospora suis. Porcine neonatal coccidiosis
Danish Vet. J. 9 (79)

DRIESEN, S. J., V. A. FAHY and P. G. CARLAND (1995):
The use of toltrazuril for the prevention of coccidiosis in piglets before weaning
Aust. Vet. J. 72

MARTINEAU, G.P., J. MENARD, H. CARABIN, A. VILLENEUVE and G. DUMAS (1994):
Strategic control of porcine coccidiosis with Toltrazuril
Proc. Int. Pig Vet. Soc., Bangkok

KOUDELA, B., M. VODSTRCILOVA, B. KILMES, P. VLADIK and J. VITOVEC (1993):
Application of the anticoccidiosis drug toltrazuril in the oxidosis of neonatal piglets
Proc. 6th Int. Coccidiosis Conf.

DRIESEN, S. J., P. G. CARLAND and V. A. FAHY (1993):
Studies on preweaning piglet diarrhoea
Aust. Vet. J. 70 (7)

HOLLANDERS, W., G.A. BOERDAM, M. EYSKER and J. VERKEYDEN (1993):
The ocurrence of Isospora suis and Strongyloides ransomi in nursing piglets in the Netherlands
Proc. 14th Int. Conf. World Assoc. Adv. Vet. Parasitol., UK

CHAE C., D. KWON, O. KIM, K. MIN, D-S. CHEON, C. CHOI, B. KIM and  J. SUH
Diarrhoea in nursing piglets associated with coccidiosis: prevalence, microscopic lesions and coexisting microorganisms
Veterinary record (1998) 143, 417-420

LETEN, J., K. SMETS, E. CLAEREBOUTE,  H.-C. MUNDT, H.C. HESSEN and J. VERCRUYSSE (2002):
Isosporose bij zuigende biggen in Vlaanderen
Vlaams Diergeneeskundig Tijdschrift 71

MEYER, C., A. JOAQUIM and A. DAUGSCHIES (1999):
Ocurrence of Isospora suis in larger piglet production units and on specialized piglet rearing farms
Veterinary Parasitology 82

GUALDI, V., F. VEZZOLI, M. LUINI and L. NISOLI:

The role of Isospora suis in the etiology of diarrhea in lactating piglets 
Proc. Soc. Italiana di Patol. ed Allev. dei Suini , Italy

Various studies have confermed the notable spread  of Isospora suis in Italy, but it was not clear what role the primary pathogen played in enteric diseases during the neonatal period. In this study, wide-ranging investigations (parasitological, bacteriological, virological) were carried out on 21 pools of faeces of newborn piglets with diarrhoea and 18 control newborn piglets from problem farms. Three I.suis-positive subjects were sacrificed in order to assess the anatomo-pathological and histological picture. The results obtained excluded bacteria and viruses as the causes of the observed pathology, conferming the role of Isospora suis as primary pathogen in the rise of sub-sow diarrhoea.

KRAMER, L., A. SCALA, G. SANNA and A., PIAIA:

Isospora suis: Epidemiological study in Sardinian pig farms
Proc. Soc. Italiana di Patol. ed Allev. dei Suini, Italy

Recent studies have shown that the protozoan Isospora suis is a major cause of neonatal diarrhoea in intensive pig farms throughout the world. (Driessen et al, 1993; Christensen e Henriksen, 1994; Meyer et al, 1999). Reports of. I. suis in Italy, however, are scarce. The present study was conducted on 27 pig farms on the island of Sardinia, each with herd sizes of at least 60 sows. 340 fecal samples were examined from suckling piglets ranging from 0-34 days of age. Three different fecal examination methods were employed to determine the diagnostic sensitivity. 85.2% of examined farms tested positive for I. suis and 57.94% of examined fecal samples showed I. suis oocytes, with peak excretion between 9-23 days of age. The high prevalence of infection observed in the present study would suggest that I. suis be included in the diagnosis/control of diarrhoea in piglets in Sardinian breeding farms.

VEZZOLI, F., V. GUALDI, M. LUINI and L. NISOLI:

Preliminary observation on the presence of Isospora suis in piglets with diarrhea
Proc. Soc. Italiana di Pat. ed Allev. die Suini Congr., Italy

Neonatal coccidiosis by Isospora suis is a pathology described throughout the world, including Italy. This study was conducted on farms in northern and central Italy, with the aim of identifying the presence I. suis oocysts using flotation techniques in pooled samples of faeces from piglets with clinical symptoms. The study confirmed both the high presence (68.2%) of the protozoa on Italien farms, as well as the low sensitivity of the diagnostic methods used (24.4% of positive pool).
The purpose for the future is to extend the data about the diffusion of I. suis, improving the capacity of diagnosis and claryfying the relationships between the parasite and the other enteropathogens of the nursing piglets.

KOUDELA, B., M. VODSTRCILOVA, B. KILMES, P. VLADIK and J. VITOVEC

Role of aquired immunity and natural age resistance on course of Isospora suis coccidiosis in nursing piglets
Proc. 17th Int. Conf. WAAVP

Thirty-two piglets from three litters were experimentally inoculated with 200,000 sporulated oocysts of Isospora suis at 3 days of age and/or re-exposed at 19 days of age or given a primary inoculated at 19 days of age, to compare the role of acquired immunity and natural age resistance on the course of coccidiosis. Twelve piglets were not inoculated and served as a control. Following exposure, the signs of coccidiosis characterised by clinical symptoms, oocysts shedding and weekly weights were similar to those of piglets inoculated at 19 days of age. This comparison suggests that maturation of non-specific components of the immune system plays a more important role in the resistance of neonatal piglets to. I. suis infection than specific immune mechanisms.

MAH, C.K.  and P.Y. CHOO

An observation on the efficacy of toltrazuril in the control of porcine neonatal coccidiosis in Malaysia
Proc. 9th Vet. Assoc. Malaysia Scientific Congr, Malaysia

A study was conducted using toltrazuril, an anticoccidial agent, on three pig farms with Isospora suis infection. A total of 10 litters in each farm was divided into treatment and control groups. All piglets in treatment groups were administered orally with toltrazuril at a dose of 25 mg kg body weight at 4 days of age, whilst the control group piglets were not treated. Preweaning mortality was monitored throughout the study. Body weight gain and diarrhoeal score were recorded at 1, 14 and 28 days of age. Analysis of the pooled data collected showed that the body weights of toltrazuril-treated piglets were significantly higher (P < 0.01) at 14 and 28 days of age as compared to those of the control group piglets. The diarrhoeal score at 14 days of age was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in toltrazuril-treated piglets but not significantly different at 28 days of age. Preweaning mortality was not significantly different (P<0.01) between treatment and control groups. A single oral treatment of toltrazuril at 25 mg/kg body weight at 4th day of age was shown to significantly improve weight gain and reduce diarrhoea due to coccidial infection in suckling pigs.

LARSEN, K.:

Isospora suis. Porcine neonatal coccidiosis
Danish Vet. J. 9 (79)

Neonatal coccidiosis caused by Isospora suis has been described in many different countries throughout the world. The life-cycle follows three phases: sporogony, excystation and an endogenous phase. It is discussed whether there is also an extra-intestinal phase. The typical clinical symptoms are diarrhoea in suckling pigs in the second week of life. The diarrhoea will typically be yellow and pasty, the morbidity rate is high, whereas mortality is often low. Herd conditions and management will be very significant factors in the spread of the disease. Routes of transmission are constantly being discussed, but the most likely is pig-to-pig transmission via contamination of the surroundings. Strong immunity develops after infection with I. suis. The diagnosis is made on the basis of the clinical symptoms and detection of oocysts or other development stages, either by means of a modified McMaster flotation technique, or by microscopic examination of a smear from the mucous membrane of the intestine. There are no highly suitable therapeutic agents or coccidiostatics on the market at present, which is why it is important to institute thorough hygiene measures. Sulpha preparations are used prophylactically by injecting the suckling pigs several times during the first week of life. A new product, toltrazuril (Baycox® 5% suspension), is under development. Toltrazuril has been shown to be especially effective in preventing coccidiosis in suckling pigs after a single oral dose of 20 mg/kg bodyweight.

DRIESEN, S. J., V. A. FAHY and P. G. CARLAND

The use of toltrazuril for the prevention of coccidiosis in piglets before weaning
Aust. Vet. J. 72

To determine the efficacy of toltrazuril as a prophylactic treatment for coccidiosis in piglets caused by Isospora suis (I suis), a single 1.0 ml dose of toltrazuril was administered orally to 1056 piglets between 3 and 6 days of age, in 5 piggeries. Prophylactic treatment of piglets reduced the occurrence of coccidiosis in litters from 71% to 22%. The number of antibacterial treatments given and the number of piglets affected per litter were also significantly reduced, resulting in some improvement in growth rates to weaning. The severity of diarrhoea was significantly reduced, as was the amount of oocyst excretion. The number of days that piglets excreted oocysts in the faeces was reduced from 4.9 days to 2.5 days. The detection of I suis in piglets with diarrhoea was reduced from 84% in the untreated piglets to 6% in the piglets given the prophylactic treatment.

MARTINEAU, G.P., J. MENARD, H. CARABIN, A. VILLENEUVE and G. DUMAS

Strategic control of neonatal coccidiosis in piglets
Proc. Int. Pig. Vet. Soc. Bangkok, 243 1994

Intestinal coccidiosis is an important disease of piglets. Phophylatic treatments are limited and of little value.
A treatment with toltrazuril (Baycox 5%) administered on day 3 of life has been evaluated. The trial was conducted in a 210-sow herd facing important coccidiosis problems. The farrowing house was divided into rooms. Four rooms were used for the experiment, each of which received one of these treatments: control, 10, 20 or 30 mg toltrazuril per piglet. Each treatment was repeated twice. Each litter was evaluated for oocyst excretion and diarrhea from day 7 to 14. Each litter was weighed each week.
Treated groups had significiantly lower diarrhea score, oocyst excretion and higher growth rate as compared to control.
Therefore, a single oral treatment with toltrazuril at day 3 of life is sufficient to reduce oocyst excretion of Isospora suis as well as clinical signs and the reduced performance associated with this diarrhea.
The level of oocyst excretion, number of piglets with diarrhea and diarrhea score is directly related to the dosage of toltrazuril.

B. KOULDELA, M. VODSTRCILOVÁ, B. KLIMES, P. VLADÍK, J. VÍtovec

Application of the anticoccidiosis drug toltrazuril in the oxidiosis of neonatal piglets
Proceedings of the 6th International Coccidiosis Conference, June 21-25, 1993

On the basis of the clinical history of diarrhoeic disease in piglets, of the results of parasitological and pathological examination and of a differential diagnosis we identified as the causative agent of the diarrhoeic disease in piglets in large-scale pig breeding the coccidium Isospora suis (Apicomplexa, Eimeriidae). We evaluated in this farrowing operation the therapeutic and prophylactic efficacy of the anticoccidiosis drug tortrazuril (Baycox, Bayer) by comparing it with that of the anticoccidiosis drug amprolium (Amprovin, MDS) in the coccidiosis of neonatal piglets. The results of our study indicate a high therapeutic and prophylactic efficiency of tortrazuril (peroral administration, a dose of 20 mg per 1 kg of live weight, age of piglets 6 and 8 days) against an infection by the coccidium Isospora suis.

DRIESEN, S. J., P. G. CARLAND and V. A. FAHY

Studies on preweaning piglet diarrhoea
Australian Veterinary Journal, Vol. 70, No. 7, 1993
Bendigo Agriculture and Veterinary Centre, Victoria.

The aim of this study was to determine the cause and risk factors involved in preweaning piglet diarrhoea. Faecal samples from 2380 diarrhoeic piglets, 5 to 30 days of age, were examined for enteropathogens. Isospora suis oocysts were detected in 53.8% of samples, Escherichia coli in 18.2% and rotavirus in 16.9%. I suis had the widest distribution, being present on 70.9% of 151 piggeries. The onset of diarrhoea occurred mainly between 7 and 14 days (77.5%), peaking at 10 days. Records of 4086 litters from two intensive piggeries were analysed and showed no seasonal variation or effect of sow parity on the incidence of piglet diarrhoea. I suis was the most common enteropathogen associated with diarrhoea in piglets from 5 days of age until weaning.

HOLLANDERS, W., G.A. BOERDAM, M. EYSKER and J. VERKEYDEN

The occurrence of Isospora suis and strongyloides ransomi in nursing piglets in the Netherlands
Proc. 14th Int. Conf. World Assoc. Adv. Vet. Parasitol., UK

The prevalence of Strongyloides ransomi and Isospora suis in nursing piglets in The Netherlands was assessed in two studies. In 1989, the prevalence of S. ransomi and I. suis was evaluated in a survey comprising 113 litters (2-5/farm) from 25 farms around Utrecht. No Strongyloides was found. Patent Isospora infections were observed in pooled rectal faecal samples from 41 litters, representing 18 of the 25 farms surveyed. Oocyst counts were generally low, counts above 1000 oocysts/gram faeces (OPG) being observed in only seven litters.
In 1990, rectal faecal samples were taken twice weekly between 4-6 and 16-23 days after parturition from all piglets of five litters and from their dam on 10 farms. Samples form piglets were pooled per litter prior to examination. Patent I. suis infections in piglets were observed on nine farms: three with 1-2 positive litters, four with 3-4 positive litters and two high-prevalence farms with all litters positive. In most litters, oocysts were not seen before the second week after birth, suggesting a slow build-up of infections. Early patency and high (>1000 OPG) oocyst counts were mainly observed at high-prevalence farms. I. suis oocysts were also observed in faecal samples from two sows.
It is concluded from the above that I. suis infections are frequent in nursing piglets in The Netherlands.

CHAE C., D. KWON, O. KIM, K. MIN, D-S. CHEON, C. CHOI, B. KIM and J. SUH

Diarrhoea in nursing piglets associated with coccidiosis: prevalence, microscopic lesions and coexisting microorganisms
Veterinary record (1998) 143, 417-420

A retrospective study was made of natural infections with Isospora suis in nursing piglets, recorded from April 1994 to May 1997, to determine the prevalence, microscopical lesions and other microorganisms  associated with coccidiosis. One hundred and five (17.3%) of the 605 nursing piglets submitted from 304 pig farms were diagnosed positive for coccidiosis. The affected piglets were from 7 to 20 days old, with a mean age of 11.1 days. Coccidiosis occurred in each year but the incidence peaked in July (15 cases, 14.3%), September (15 cases, 14.3%), October (16 cases, 15.2%) and November (18 cases, 17.1%) and was lowest in May (no cases), August (two cases, 1.9%) and June (four cases, 3.8%). Histopathologically, villous atrophy resulting from necrosis and sloughing of epithelial cells was a prominent feature of infection with I. suis. In 49.5% of the nursing piglets, other enteropathogens were identified, Escherichia coli (47.6%) and transmissible gastroenteritis virus (3.8%) being the most commonly diagnosed. Forty-five of 50 E. coli isolates associated with coccidiosis tested negative by polymerase chain reaction for enterotoxigenic virulence factors, such as fimbriae and enterotoxins.

LETEN, J., K. SMETS, E. CLAEREBOUTE,  H.-C. MUNDT,H.C. HESSEN and J. VERCRUYSSE

Isosporosis in suckling piglets in Flanders
Vlaams Diergeneeskundig Tijdschrift 71

Isospora suis causes neonatal coccidiosis in piglets. Clinical signs include diarrhoea in 5 to 14-day-old piglets. The morbidity is high and the mortality low to moderate. Up until now, no I. suis prevalence data have been available in Belgium. Therefore, 30 swine herds (10 litters/farm) were sampled in Flanders during the summer of 2000 to determine the prevalence and the importance of I. suis. On 24 of the 30 examined farms (80%) oocysts were present, with an average of 33% of the litters infected. On 4 of the 5 farms with obvious problems of diarrhoea, an average of 47% of the litters was infected. However, diarrhoea was not significantly correlated with the presence of I. suis infection or with the percentage of infected litters. The cleaning of the farrowing crate and the treatment of the sows (at parturition) with sulfonamids had no apparent effect on the occurrence of the infection, but the desinfection of the farrowing crates had a significant effect on the percentage of infected litters.

MEYER, C., JOACHIM, A., DAUGSCHIES, A.

Occurrence of Isospora suis in larger piglet production units and on specialized piglet rearing farms.
Veterinary Parasitology 82

Mixed fecal samples of 264 litters from five piglet production farms (155-238 sows/farm) were investigated three times during the suckling period for the occurrence of Isospora suis over the period of 1 year. On all five farms Isopora suis was found to be a common endoparasite with infection rates being highest in litters of 3-4 weeks of age. By the end of the third investigation period the cumulative infection rate was 53.8% of the litters ranging from 20.0% to 81.5% for the single farms. During the suckling period the infection rate increased from 18.6% to 32.6% and then to 37.7%. Diarrhea was present in 66.3% of the sampled litters with the highest rates at the end of the suckling period. 63.4% of the litters which showed diarrhea and 34.8% of those without diarrhea excreted I.suis within the study period. Diarrhea was recorded for 78.2% of the I.suis-positive litters and for 52.5% of the Isospora-negative litters. In summer and fall the occurrence of I. suis was higher (66.3% and 61.0%, respectively) than in spring and winter (47.7% and 37.9%, respectively). In litters with diarrhea and pathogenic E. coli I. suis often occurred simultaneously. Above-average hygiene measures and mainly perforated pen floors seemed to lower the risk of isosporosis. With the exception of Strongyloides ransomi other parasites were not found in the fecal samples
of suckling piglets. Two specialized piglet rearing farms, a conventional large-scale rearing unit and a farm managed according to the segregated early weaning (SEW) system were examined three times during the 6-7 week rearing period. In both units I. suis was common, but was not correlated with diarrhea. In the SEW unit the infection rates decreased from 37.5% to 20.2% and to 4.1%, while the infection rate in the conventional unit slightly increased from the first (17.2%) to the second (21.9%) investigation and stayed at this level at the third sampling.