CHEMOTHERAPY OF HISTOMONIASIS OF TURKEYS. I. THE VALUE OF 1:2-DIMETHYL-5-NITROIMIDAZOLE IN PREVENTION AND TREATMENT.

In spite of the best known sanitation practices, losses from histomoniasis (infectious enterohepatitis, blackhead) in commercial turkey flocks are sometimes disastrous and often necessitate the use of drugs for prophylaxis or treatment. Drugs for treatment and prevention have been evaluated extensively by numerous investigators, but not many have shown relatively high levels of efficacy in controlling the disease (1,2,3,5,6,9). Among the most effective and widely used chemotherapeutic agents are 2-acetylamino-5-nitrothiazole (Enheptin-A, American Cyanamid Co.) and 2-amino-5nitrothiazole (Enheptin-T, American Cyanamid Co.). Because these are reported to retard maturation of the testes in cockerels (4,8), some flock owners are reluctant to use them to control histomoniasis in replacement breeder flocks during the latter stages of growth. Several of the compounds used to control histomoniasis contain arsenicals. The concern over the use of arsenicals in the rations of animals to be used for human consumption indicates a need for additional remedies which do not contain such chemicals.