Most effective treatments for Cryptosporidiosis in calves?

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Hi Colleagues,

 

In YOUR first-hand experience, what are the best (most effective)

treatments for Cryptosporidiosis in calves?

 

This year, several farmers have reported to our (Teagasc) Advisory

Service that conventional treatment [drugs not specified] gave poor

results in treating Cryptosporidiosis in calves.

 

Some farmers have reported that one vet has supplied them with an

homeopathic remedy that contains a Cryptosporidial nosode +

Merc cor, and that that remedy has worked after conventional

drugs had failed. I am sceptical.

 

A search of Google and Medline, earlier today, suggested the

following may be useful in human Cryptosporidial diarrhoea, esp in

HIV/AIDS cases:

 

Allicin (from Garlic): Effects of an allicin- based product on

cryptosporidiosis in neonatal calves. Olson EJ, Epperson WB,

Zeman DH, Fayer R, Hildreth MB. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1998 Apr

1;212(7):987-90 Department of Biology and Microbiology, College

of Agriculture and Biological Sciences, South Dakota State

University, Brookings 57007, USA. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate

effectiveness of an allicin- based product in neonatal calves

inoculated with Cryptosporidium parvum. DESIGN: Randomized

controlled study. ANIMALS: 43 neonatal calves. PROCEDURE:

Calves were inoculated with 1.5 x 10(8) or 7.5 x 10(5) C parvum

oocysts within 2 days after birth. Calves were given an allicin-based

product once after inoculation or daily for 7 days after inoculation or

were not treated. Calves that developed diarrhea were treated by

administration of the product. Fecal consistency scores and weight

gains were statistically evaluated. RESULTS: Mean daily weight

gain and severity of diarrhea in calves 4 to 21 days old were

unaffected by prophylactic use of the product. However, intensive

prophylactic administration may have delayed onset of C parvum-

induced diarrhea in calves inoculated with the lower dose of

oocysts. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Administration of an allicin-

based product did not alter duration of C parvum-induced diarrhea

or enhance weight gain in neonatal calves. However, intensive

prophylactic administration of an allicin-based product may delay

onset of diarrhea in calves exposed to C parvum oocysts.

Publication Types: Clinical trial Randomized controlled trial PMID:

9540869, UI: 98201746

 

Allicin (from Garlic): In vitro synergism of concentrated Allium

sativum extract and amphotericin B against Cryptococcus

neoformans. Davis LE, Shen J, Royer RE Planta Med 1994

Dec;60(6):546-9 Neurology Service (127), Veterans Administration

Medical Center, Albuquerque, NM 87108. Allium sativum (garlic)

derived preparations are used alone or with amphotericin B in Asia

to treat human systemic fungal infections and cryptococcal

meningitis. To evaluate the scientific merit of using allicin-derived

compounds as an anti-fungal drug, we prepared a concentrated A.

sativum extract that contained 34% allicin, 44% total thiosulfinates,

and 20% vinyldithiins. We found that the concentrated extract

possessed potent in vitro fungistatic and fungicidal activity against

3 different isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans. The minimum

inhibitory concentration of the concentrated garlic extract against 1

x 10(5) organisms of C. neoformans ranged from 6 to 12

micrograms/ml. In addition, in vitro synergistic fungistatic activity

with amphotericin B was demonstrated against all isolates of C.

neoformans. This study lends laboratory support for the treatment

of cryptococcal infections with concentrated garlic extracts. PMID:

7809209, UI: 95108136

 

Anticryptosporidial drugs:

http://www.sfaf.org/treatment/beta/b33/b33diar.html says:

Cryptosporidium parvum -- treatment: paromomycin (Humatin),

bovine colostrum*, nitazoxanide*, GM-CSF* (Leukine), allicin* (from

garlic). Cryptosporidial diarrhea that does not respond to the

standard or experimental therapies may become chronic and

severe. An option for such people is octreotide at 50-200 mcg 3

times/day injected subcutaneously, or intravenously at 1 mcg/hour.

Patients taking octreotide should be monitored carefully, because

the drug can induce malabsorptive diarrhea. Recent studies of the

experimental drug nitazoxanide suggest that it significantly

decreased Cryptosporidium-associated diarrhea. Most

encouragingly, investigators from France, Australia and Rhode

Island reported at the 4th Conference on Retroviruses and

Opportunistic Infections in January that combination antiretroviral

therapy including a protease inhibitor drug (either ritonavir or

indinavir) stopped cryptosporidial diarrhea and cleared the infection

in 18 people.

 

Antiparasitic agents. Rosenblatt JE. Mayo Clin Proc. 1999

Nov;74(11):1161-75. Division of Clinical Microbiology, Mayo Clinic

Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA. Several important

developments have occurred in recent years in the chemotherapy

for and prophylaxis of parasitic infections. Although mefloquine is

clearly the most effective agent for prevention of chloroquine-

resistant falciparum malaria, its use has been compromised by

side effects, both real and imagined. Well-designed studies have

shown that side effects occur no more frequently with low-dose

mefloquine than with chloroquine. Use of mefloquine in pregnant

women has not been associated with birth defects, but the

incidence of stillbirths may be increased. Malarone is a new agent

that combines atovaquone and proguanil, and it may be as effective

as mefloquine; however, it is not yet available in the United States.

Several newer agents have appeared in response to the

development of multidrug resistant Plasmodium falciparum,

especially in Southeast Asia. Halofantrine is available for the

treatment of mild to moderate malaria due to P. falciparum and for

P. vivax infections. Because of severe toxic effects, use of

halofantrine should be restricted to only those unusual and rare

situations in which other agents cannot be used. Artemisinin (an

extract of the Chinese herbal remedy qinghaosu) and two

derivatives, artesunate and artemether, are active against multidrug

resistant P. falciparum and are widely used in Asia in oral,

parenteral, and rectal forms. The antibacterial azithromycin in

combination with atovaquone or quinine has now been reported to

treat babesiosis effectively in experimental animals and in a few

patients. Azithromycin in combination with paromomycin has also

shown promise in the treatment of cryptosporidiosis (and

toxoplasmosis when combined with pyrimethamine) in patients

with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Albendazole

is currently the only systemic agent available for treatment of

microsporidiosis, an infection primarily of patients with AIDS. In

addition, albendazole and ivermectin have emerged as effective

broad-spectrum antihelminthics, with albendazole becoming the

drug of choice for hydatid disease (echinococcosis),

neurocysticercosis, and most intestinal nematode infections

(except strongyloidiasis and trichuriasis). Liposomal amphotericin

B is the first drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for

the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis. Publication Types: Review

Review, Tutorial PMID: 10560606 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

Artemisinin (Qinghaosu), a naturally occurring endoperoxide from

Qinghao (Artemisia annua Hb; Sweet Wormwood Hb) has

Antiprotozoal action; however, Qinghaosu (artemisinin) and

derivatives failed to protect neonatal BALB/c mice against

Cryptosporidium parvum (Cp) infection. Fayer R, Ellis W. J

Eukaryot Microbiol. 1994 Sep-Oct;41(5):41S. USDA, ARS, LPSI

Beltsville, MD 20705. PMID: 7804241 [PubMed - indexed for

MEDLINE]

 

Azithromycin (in difficult cases): Azithromycin in combination with

paromomycin has also shown promise in the treatment of

cryptosporidiosis (and toxoplasmosis when combined with

pyrimethamine) in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency

syndrome (AIDS). Albendazole is currently the only systemic

agent available for treatment of microsporidiosis, an infection

primarily of patients with AIDS.

 

Azithromycin + atovaquone/quinine combination

 

Azithromycin + paromomycin combination shows promise to treat

cryptosporidiosis (and toxoplasmosis when combined with

pyrimethamine) in HIV/AIDS patients

 

Cat’s Claw, an herbal product derived from the Peruvian root,

Uncaria Tormentosa:

http://www.aegis.com/pubs/notes/1996/NT960402.html says: is It

has interested us because it’s so popular with PWAs, and

because of the anecdotal data that it is a strong antiviral,

antioxidant, anti-tumor, anti- inflammatory, anti-etc., herbal

compound. Part of our mission is to listen to and respond to the

community’s voice and treatment decisions. Krallendorn, a

European version, is prescribed as if it were a pharmaceutical, in

Germany at least, but there was no data available to back up

claims made by the various marketeers who want to sell it in the

US. After repeated requests, the Austrian company, Immodal, gave

me reports based on one, two, six patients who took Krallendorn

and said they felt better. This did not make the committee, or

myself, feel any better about selling this product. The problem, as I

see it, is that anyone can sell almost anything and call it Cat’s

Claw without having to prove what it is to anyone. Immodal was

more than happy to send me info that their product had less wood

pulp and no fungus in it, unlike their competitors, but they wouldn’t

provide us with any information that it does anything for PWAs who

take it. The committee rejected it.

 

Diclazuril (trade name Clinacox), [

http://www.aegis.com/pubs/atn/1989/ATN08001.html ]

 

Nitazoxanide was discussed in the last issue of Notes as a

promising treatment for Cryptosporidia and Microsporidia. There is

no effective treatment approved by the FDA for these killers, so if

we could get our grubby little hands on the drug, we’d sell it in a

jiffy. The problem with Nitazoxanide is that it is seemingly not for

sale anywhere in the world...a significant problem. Some believe

that it’s an approved vet drug in Europe, but the French veterinarian

I spoke to said it had been approved, but never sold. The chief

researcher at the company in the US told me that I would be

" sorely disappointed " if we tried to import this drug. The committee

voted that we should aggressively work to get NTZ ASAP. See

also: http://www.aids.org/atn/a-239-01.html

 

Olive Leaf Extract (Ganlanyetiquwu) has been mentioned as killing

Cryptosporidia. Medline has nothing on that.

http://www.genemedicine.com.cn/data/forum/dispbbs.asp?boardID=

4 & RootID=665 & ID=665 says (in Chinese): Ganlanyetiquwu (from

Youganlangshuye; Fm Oleae europaeae Olive Tree Fm; Olive leaf;

Olive Leaf Extract): has phenolic glucoside - oleuropein - a Bitter;

ACTIONS: (1) Antioxidant*; Aid cells to withstand hypoxia;

Antilipidperoxidation, Aid

Skin; regenerate tissue & muscle; Antiageing, Antiwrinkle,

Regenerate Skin/muscle elasticity, prevent sunburn / UV radiation

damage; Aid hair fibres, skin secretions & keratin formation;

Astringe; (2) Antioxidant*; HT-Protector in CHD, Antiatheroma,

Antiarteriosclerosis; Vasodilator~arterial & Hypotensor in

hypertension; Calm Shen; (3)

Immunostimulant*; Antiinfection;

Antifever;

Antivirus; prevent virus replication in cells; Antiherpes;

AIDS; Antiseptic; Antibacterial; Antiprotozoal;Antiparasitic;

Antifungal; Antiyeast; USES: (1) Topical in skin-care creams to

rejuvenate tissues & remove wrinkles, & in First Aid creams & burn

lotions; (2) HT~CHD, atheroma, arteriosclerosis; hypertension w

Shen disturbed; (3) Fever, Virus infection; Ganmao (common cold);

bacterial infection; protozoal infection; Schistosomiasis; Yeast

infections & Candida; UTI esp BL~cystitis*;

 

Which, if any, of those do you find useful, or what alternatives are

good for you in cryptosporidiosis in calves?

 

Best regards,

 

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