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In the UK the major group of protozoa of significant economic importance are the [[coccidia]]. As such the pharmaceutical industry have spent a lot of money developing anti-coccidial drugs to ensure that production isn't affected. This group of drugs will be the many topic on this page but other groups of drugs that have anti-protozoal action will also be discussed.

In the UK the major group of protozoa of significant economic importance are the [[coccidia]]. As such the pharmaceutical industry have spent a lot of money developing anti-coccidial drugs to ensure that production isn't affected. This group of drugs will be the main topic on this page but other groups of drugs that have anti-protozoal action will also be discussed.

==Anti-Coccidial Agents==

==Anti-Coccidial Agents==

It must be remembered that very few drugs are licensed to treat avian coccidiosis, '''toltazuril''' is one of the exceptions. The following drugs are thus used to prevent infections occuring.

It must be remembered that very few drugs are licensed to treat avian coccidiosis, '''toltrazuril''' is one of the exceptions. The following drugs are thus used to prevent infections occuring.

===Ionophores - Monensin, salinomycin, narasin===

===Ionophores - Monensin, salinomycin, narasin===

* The most popular drug group to treat avain coccidia, they have been developed from the fermentation products of ''Streptomyces'' moulds.

* The most popular drug group to treat avian coccidiosis, they have been developed from the fermentation products of ''Streptomyces'' moulds.

* They work by allowing an influx of sodium ions into the sporozoite, this leads to a water influx. The sporozoite uses up all its energy trying to restore its ion and water balance, eventually structural damage occurs and the organism dies.

* They work by allowing an influx of sodium ions into the sporozoite, this leads to a water influx. The sporozoite uses up all its energy trying to restore its ion and water balance, eventually structural damage occurs and the organism dies.

* They are particular useful for avain coccidiosis because:

* They are particular useful for avian coccidiosis because:

** They supress clinical and subclinical coccidia

** They suppress clinical and subclinical coccidia

** As the entire coccidia population is not destroyed it allows natural immunity to develop

** As the entire coccidia population is not destroyed it allows natural immunity to develop

** They reduce oocyst build up in the litter

** They reduce oocyst build up in the litter

===Anticoccidial Programmes===

===Anticoccidial Programmes===

The aim of these programmes are to ensure that the birds in question develop natural immunity, without their production being affected, whilst ensuring that resistance doesn't develop in the population. This means that continous use of the same drug can not be used.

The aim of these programmes is to ensure that the birds in question develop natural immunity, without their production being affected, whilst ensuring that resistance doesn't develop in the population. This means that continous use of the same drug can not be used.

A '''shuttle programme''' is the alternative. This means that in a bird's growing period it experiences a number of different drugs in sequence. These programmes try to balance risk, productivity and cost. They are obviously very complex and only skilled specialists develop them for use on poultry farms.

A '''shuttle programme''' is the alternative. This means that in a bird's growing period it experiences a number of different drugs in sequence. These programmes try to balance risk, productivity and cost. They are obviously very complex and only skilled specialists develop them for use on poultry farms.

==Other Anti-protozoal Drugs==

==Other Anti-protozoal Drugs==

* The antibiotic [[Macrolides and Lincosamides|clindamycin]] and atovaquone (no liscense for animals) are used in man to treat Babesia infections.

* The antibiotic [[Macrolides and Lincosamides|clindamycin]] and atovaquone (no license for animals) are used in man to treat Babesia infections.

* Complex chemotherapy protocols are used to treat Leishmania.

* Complex chemotherapy protocols are used to treat Leishmania.

* [[Nitroimidazoles|Metronidazole]] is used to treat Treponema hyodysenteriae, Trichomonas foetus, Histomonas and Giardia.

* [[Nitroimidazoles|Metronidazole]] is used to treat ''Treponema hyodysenteriae, [[Trichomonas foetus]], Histomonas'' and ''Giardia''.

* Fenbendazole is used to treat ''Encephalitozoon caniculi'' and Giardia.

* Fenbendazole is used to treat ''Encephalitozoon caniculi'' and Giardia.