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Feeding Activated Charcoal from Bark Containing Wood Vinegar Liquid (Nekka-Rich) Is Effective as Treatment for Cryptosporidiosis in Calves

S. Watarai^*,1, Tana and M. Koiwa

^* The Laboratory of Veterinary Immunology, Division of Veterinary Science, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, 1-1 Gakuen-cho, Naka-ku, Sakai, Osaka 599-8531, Japan
Research Institute, Miyazaki-Midori Pharmaceuticals Inc., 945 Hieda, Akae, Miyazaki 880-0912, Japan
Department of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, 582 Bunkyodai-Midorimachi, Ebetsu, Hokkaido 069-8501, Japan

¹ Corresponding author: swatarai{at}vet.osakafu-u.ac.jp

The effect of activated charcoal containing wood vinegar liquid (Nekka-Rich) on Cryptosporidium parvum was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. First, the adsorption of C. parvum by the activated charcoal component of Nekka-Rich was examined. When mixed, C. parvum oo-cysts were effectively adsorbed by activated charcoal. Next, the effect of the wood vinegar liquid component of Nekka-Rich was assessed. Wood vinegar liquid had an antiprotozoan activity against C. parvum oocysts. Finally, the anticryptosporidial effect of Nekka-Rich was evaluated in calves experimentally infected with C. parvum. Six neonatal calves at 7 d of age were orally infected with 1 x 10⁵ oocysts of C. parvum. When diarrhea was observed (on d 3 after the experimental infection), 3 calves received a milk replacer containing 10 g of Nekka-Rich at 8-h intervals for 4 consecutive days, and 3 control calves were given a milk replacer without Nekka-Rich at 8-h intervals for 4 consecutive days. Calves fed milk with Nekka-Rich showed recovery from diarrhea 1 d after the start of treatment. Significantly less fecal excretion of C. parvum oocysts was observed 1 d after treatment in calves fed Nekka-Rich. On d 2 from the beginning of treatment with Nekka-Rich (on d 5 after the experimental infection), oocysts were not isolated from fecal samples. On the other hand, nontreated control calves developed severe diarrhea, and fecal excretion of oocysts was consistently observed. Calves in both groups were killed for collection of samples, which were subjected to scanning electron microscopy. Scanning electron microscopy revealed adherence of C. parvum oocysts to the intestinal epithelial surface of nontreated control calves, whereas a lack of C. parvum adhesion was observed in calves fed Nekka-Rich. These results suggest that Nekka-Rich would be useful for the treatment of cryptosporidiosis in neonatal calves.

Key Words: activated charcoal • cryptosporidiosis • diarrhea • wood vinegar liquid