Studies are currently underway to determine the level of coccidial activity in swine herds in Canada, which in turn could form the basis for obtaining approval for a suitable anti-coccidial drug, hopefully Baycox, for pigs. Preliminary results from these studies by Dr. Andrew Peregrine and his research team at the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, show that cocci is present and active in about 70 per cent of herds in Ontario, a level consistent with reported infection levels in many European and other countries around the world.
This level of cocci activity would also indicate that considerably more than the paltry two to four per cent of the pigs reportedly being treated with Baycox prior to its removal could benefit from treatment for cocci, a debilitating disease even at the subclinical level. So what can the producer do? Is there a suitable alternative drug for use against cocci? The first thing is to develop a plan of action. The plan can be laid out in a simple, straightforward, four-step format:
• Observe and recognize the clinical signs of cocci.
• Get a definitive diagnosis.
• Establish disinfection, hygiene and management procedures.
• Use an alternative treatment, if available.