Introduction

vet06701

Company name: Janssen Animal Health

A division of Janssen-Cilag Ltd

50-100 Holmers Farm Way

High Wycombe

Buckinghamshire

HP12 4EG

Telephone: 01494 567555

Fax: 01494 567556

Email: ahealth@jacgb.jnj.com

Presentation

White aqueous oral suspension containing 2.5 mg diclazuril per ml.

Uses

For the treatment and prevention of coccidial infections in lambs caused in particular, by the more pathogenic Eimeria species E. crandallis and E. ovinoidalis. To aid in the control of coccidiosis in calves caused by Eimeria bovis and Eimeria zuernii. Diclazuril is an anticoccidial of the benzeneacetonitrile group. The pharmacological studies performed in laboratory animals could not demonstrate pharmacological effects, other than the anticoccidial effect.

Dependent on the coccidia species, diclazuril has a coccidiocidal effect on the asexual or sexual stages of the development cycle of the parasite. Treatment with diclazuril causes interruption of the coccidial cycle and reduces excretion of oocysts for up to 14 days.

Dosage and administration

Shake well before use. After using draw off cap, re-close container with original cap.

Administration

Vecoxan oral suspension should be administered by mouth with a drenching gun. Appropriately graduated drenching equipment must be used to allow accurate administration of the required dose volume. This is particularly important when administering small volumes.

Dosage

LAMBS: Therapeutic use

1 mg diclazuril per kg bodyweight or 1 ml Vecoxan per 2.5 kg bodyweight, as a single administration.

LAMBS: Preventative use

1 mg diclazuril per kg body weight or 1 ml Vecoxan per 2.5 kg body weight at about 4-6 weeks of age at the time that coccidiosis can normally be expected on the farm. Under conditions of high infection pressure, a second treatment may be indicated about 3 weeks after the first dosing.

CALVES: As an aid in the control of coccidiosis

1 mg diclazuril per kg body weight or 1 ml Vecoxan per 2.5 kg body weight, administered as a single dose, 14 days after moving into a potentially high risk environment. If a satisfactory response is not observed, then further advice should be sought from your veterinary surgeon and the cause of the condition should be reviewed. It is good practice to ensure the cleanliness of calf housing.

Group Treatment

It is advocated to treat all lambs of the flock, and all calves in a pen. This will contribute to reduce the infection pressure and assure a better epidemiological control of the coccidiosis infection

Bodyweight	Volume
(kg)	(ml)
5 kg	2 ml
7.5 kg	3 ml
10 kg	4 ml
12.5 kg	5 ml
15 kg	6 ml
20 kg	8 ml
25 kg 50 kg 75 kg 100 kg 150 kg 175 kg 200 kg	10 ml 20 ml 30 ml 40 ml 60 ml 70 ml 80 ml

Contra-indications, warnings, etc

Vecoxan is well tolerated in lambs and calves. The administration to lambs of a dose of diclazuril of up to 60 times the therapeutic dose did not reveal any adverse effects. In calves, no adverse effects were recorded at 5 times the prescribed dose, administered for 3 consecutive days.

For oral use in lambs and calves only. .

Lambs

On rare occasions, in highly susceptible lambs, e.g. where they have been housed for long periods of time before being turned out onto heavily contaminated pasture, a severe scour has been seen shortly after dosing. In such cases, fluid therapy is essential and the use of a sulphonamide should be considered. It is also important to consider other potential pathogens that may be playing a role, e.g. Cryptosporidia, rotavirus, Giardia and E. coli.

In the event of any stress factors (eg cold weather, other diseases) or high challenge (eg warm wet weather, inability to move lambs from infected pastures after dosing) the timing of the doses may need to be adjusted.

Calves

Clinical coccidiosis generally occurs late in the parasite’s life cycle after most of the damage to the calf’s intestine has already been done. This severely damaged intestine can easily be infected by secondary bacteria and/or other agents. In cases of acute clinical coccidiosis treated with Vecoxan, fluid therapy is essential and the use of an antibiotic should be considered. Symptoms of clinical disease may remain obvious in some calves treated with Vecoxan, even though oocyst excretion is reduced to a very low level, and overall prevalence of diarrhoea is decreased.

Withdrawal period

Meat: 0 (zero) days.

Operator warnings

Wash hands after administration of the product.

Disposal

Unused product and containers should be disposed of in accordance with any guidance from an appropriate waste disposal authority.