From:
http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/coccidiosis.pdf
Natural Treatments
Keeping birds in general good health is
always important. Some small producers
provide raw milk, yogurt, apple cider
vinegar, or probiotics to birds, believing
that beneficial microbes will prevent or
treat coccidiosis. Actually, coccidia do not
compete with bacteria in the gut; therefore,
beneficial bacteria and other microbes
will not eliminate coccidial development.
However, anything that improves the overall
health of the gut and the bird can help
reduce the impact of coccidiosis. Also, a
population of beneficial bacteria is always
better than pathogenic bacteria, since coccidia
weaken the gut wall, and bacteria may
pass through. In short, feeding dairy products
or probiotics will not stop the coccidia
through competitive exclusion but does
provide nutrients or beneficial bacteria that
are useful in any situation.
Producers sometimes give diatomaceous
earth (DE) to the birds in the belief that the
sharp edges of the fossilized diatoms will
damage the parasites and reduce coccidiosis;
however, there is no scientific data to
support its use.
Drugs
Drugs are used for two different purposes:
To prevent illness
To treat illness
Although a producer may depend on management
for coccidiosis control, a drug such
as amprolium is useful for rescue treatment
in the case of an outbreak. There is no
need to destroy infected birds; they can be
treated. In large houses, it is necessary to
routinely use drugs or vaccines because of
the high density of birds.
Types of Drugs
Sulfa drugs: An exciting discovery
in the 1930s was that sulfa drugs
would prevent coccidiosisthe first
drugs shown to do so. Sulfa drugs
also have some antibacterial action.
However, a relatively large amount
of sulfa was needed (10-20 percent
of the diet) and could be tolerated
by the bird for only a short time,
since it caused rickets. (Reid, 1990)
Sulfa drugs had to be used intermittently
(e.g., three days on and three
days off). Nowadays, comparatively
small amounts of sulfamonaides,
such as sulfaquinoxaline, are
used. They work only against
Eimeria acervulina and Eimeria
maxima, not against Eimeria
tenella. Sulfamonaides are used to
treat coccidiosis.
Amprolium: Amprolium is an anticoccidial
drug. It has also been
used for many years and needs no
withdrawal time to guard against
residue in the meat. It is given in
the drinking water and interferes
with metabolism of the vitamin thiamin
(vitamin B1) in coccidia. Amprolium
treats both intestinal and
cecal coccidia.
