Calf cryptosporidiosis drives 143% surge in antibiotic use

Sales of paromomycin, an antibiotic used to reduce diarrhoea caused by diagnosed C. parvum infections in calves, have more than doubled over five years.

Persistently high levels of cryptosporidiosis in calves, increasing antibiotic sales, and concerns over possible resistance are reinforcing calls for greater focus on prevention-led disease control and antimicrobial stewardship in youngstock systems, said an MSD Animal Health expert. According to the government’s latest Veterinary Investigation Diagnosis Analysis (VIDA) report, cryptosporidiosis remains the second most common bovine diagnosis and the leading enteric pathogen in neonatal and pre-weaned calves. Sales data also show that use of the antibiotic paromomycin has more than doubled over five years, from 96kg to 233kg, a marking 143% increase which reflects sustained disease pressure in youngstock. The rise in cases and antibiotic sales comes at a time when concerns have been raised about increasing paromomycin resistance in young calves, with experts warning that routine or widespread use may increase selection pressure and contribute to resistance development. ...