Anti-Cryptosporidium Activity of Albendazole, Metronidazole and Paromomycin in Experimentally Infected Cattle

Efficacy of albendazole, metronidazole and paromomycin was evaluated against Cryptosporidium in experimentally infected cattle. Cryptosporidium oocysts harvested from cattle reared at different livestock farms identified by microscopic morphology and PCR were used for experimental infection. Oocyst per gram (OPG) count was increased in control (untreated) cattle. A single dose of 10mg/kg body weight of albendazole caused significant reduction in OPG count and efficacy determined was 43.05, 58.7 and 64.6 percents on 13, 20 and 27 day post treatment. At 7.5mg/kg body weight dose efficacy recorded was 34.8, 57.1 and 62.9 percents, respectively. A single dose of 50mg/kg body weight of metronidazole caused significant decrease in OPG count and efficacy calculated on days 13, 20 and 27 was 32.8, 53.3 and 56.6 percent, respectively. Similar pattern of reduction in oocyst number and efficacy was recorded at higher dose of metronidazole. At dose rate of 25mg/kg body weight of paromomycin used against Cryptosporidiosis under experimental conditions significant reduction in OPG count was observed with percent efficacy of 55.04, 68.5 and 79.4 on different observational days. At 50mg/kg body weight dose rate of paromomycin percent efficacy determined was 48.1, 65 and 69, respectively. On comparison the most effective reduction in OPG was observed by the use of paromomycin at dose rate of 25mg/kg body weight of cattle. Results of paromomycin were better than other two trialed drugs and may be a choice for therapy of, cryptosporidiosis.