What is coccidiosis?

From the Guidelines

Coccidioidomycosis treatment should be guided by the 2016 Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) clinical practice guideline, which provides recommendations for managing patients with this fungal infection, including those with special at-risk populations such as pregnant women and diabetic patients. The management of coccidioidomycosis involves several key considerations, including selecting patients for coccidioidal testing, evaluating the extent of disease, and determining the appropriate treatment strategy 1.

Key Considerations

• The guideline addresses clinical questions such as when to start antifungal drug therapy in patients with newly diagnosed, uncomplicated coccidioidal pneumonia, and how to incorporate health education and physical therapy reconditioning programs into the management program 1.
• For patients with primary pulmonary coccidioidomycosis with an asymptomatic pulmonary nodule and no overt immunosuppressing conditions, observation without antifungal treatment is preferred 1.
• In patients with symptomatic chronic cavitary coccidioidal pneumonia, an oral azole such as fluconazole is recommended 1.
• The guideline also provides recommendations for managing patients with extrapulmonary soft tissue coccidioidomycosis, bone and/or joint coccidioidomycosis, and vertebral coccidioidomycosis 1.

Treatment Strategies

• Antifungal therapy is indicated for patients with extrapulmonary soft tissue coccidioidomycosis not associated with bone infection 1.
• For patients with bone and/or joint coccidioidomycosis, an oral azole is preferred 1.
• In patients with vertebral coccidioidomycosis, surgery may be necessary to manage lesions 1.

Special At-Risk Populations

• Pregnant women, diabetic patients, and patients with certain ancestries (such as African and Filipino) are at increased risk of disseminated infection and require special consideration 1.
• The guideline provides recommendations for managing patients with coccidioidomycosis in these special at-risk populations, including preemptive strategies and management of laboratory exposures 1.

From the Research

Coccidiosis Treatment

• Coccidiosis is a disease caused by Eimeria protozoan species, and it can be treated with various anti-coccidial drugs, including toltrazuril and diclazuril 2, 3.
• Toltrazuril has been shown to be highly efficacious and safe in the treatment of coccidiosis in first-year grazing calves 2 and pet rabbits 4.
• The efficacy of toltrazuril has also been compared to diclazuril in a murine model, and the results indicated that toltrazuril is more effective in preventing oocyte excretion and reducing the number of days with diarrhea 3.
• Toltrazuril can be used as a stand-alone treatment or in conjunction with anticoccidial medicated or nonmedicated feed to control coccidiosis in broilers 5.

Coccidiosis Control

• Coccidiosis control is crucial to prevent the spread of the disease and reduce the economic impact on the livestock industry.
• Toltrazuril has been shown to be effective in controlling coccidiosis in various animal species, including calves, rabbits, and broilers 2, 4, 5.
• The use of toltrazuril in conjunction with anticoccidial medicated or nonmedicated feed can provide a comprehensive control program for coccidiosis 5.

Notes

• It's worth noting that coccidioidomycosis is a different disease from coccidiosis, and it requires different treatment approaches 6.
• The treatment of coccidioidomycosis typically involves antifungal therapy, and the choice of treatment depends on the severity of the disease and the patient's immune status 6.