Calf coccidiosis

Headquarter of Bayer Animal Health in Monheim, Germany

The infectious disease coccidiosis poses a massive problem for cattle herds all over the world. This parasitic disease is wide-spread. Unless it is treated early and appropriately it causes severe diarrhea in calves. The consequences are developmental disorders, organ damage and underperformance in animals as well as heavy economic losses for farmers. This is why the early recognition, prevention and effective treatment of calf coccidiosis is the major focus of interest at today’s press conference held by Bayer HealthCare’s Animal Health Division at the XXVth World Buiatrics Congress (WBC) in Budapest, Hungary.

Lykele van der Broek, Head of the Animal Health Division, underlines Bayer’s role as a research-based company which responds to changes on the global cattle market and supports veterinarians and farmers with new product solutions. With sales of €956 million in 2007, Bayer Animal Health is one of the leading manufacturers of animal health products worldwide. The Division produces and distributes over 100 different medicines and care products for farm livestock and domestic pets.

“The long-term future of our business is safeguarded by innovations,” says van der Broek. Bayer Animal Health therefore invests approximately ten percent of its yearly turnover in the research and development of new compounds and the advancement of existing products. Special attention is paid to the livestock sector, states van der Broek. “The continued growth in world population, the rising incomes in emerging countries and the associated increase in the demand for animal-derived foods make innovative, effective and user-friendly high-quality products for farm livestock a major priority.” Cattle are still the most important farm species for the animal health industry.

Professor Arwid Daugschies, Director of the Institute of Parasitology at the Veterinary Faculty of Leipzig University, and Dr. Klemens Krieger, head of the research and development department working on parasite control products at Bayer Animal Health – both renowned experts in the field of coccidiosis – presented the latest scientific findings and insights into practical research at the press conference.

Surveys among European veterinarians show that coccidiosis often remains undiagnosed in practice. Initial symptoms in calves, such as reduced feed intake, poor growth or diarrhea, are frequently misdiagnosed as bacterial or viral infections, reports Daugschies. All too often this results in inappropriate treatment with antibiotics, which leads to therapeutic failure. The Leipzig-based scientist therefore advocates extensive differential diagnosis in order to identify a coccidial infection at the earliest possible time. He explains that the intestines of infected animals sustain massive and lasting damage even before the onset of symptoms. As a result, food intake is permanently reduced and immunity weakened. In order to prevent a disease outbreak and avert the subsequent loss of performance, treatment should preferably be given before the first onset of diarrhea, Daugschies says.

Toltrazuril, the active compound developed by Bayer Animal Health, is one of the most efficient remedies against coccidia in various animal species. Recent field studies in cattle have also demonstrated the high efficacy of the compound against these parasites, reports Krieger. “Toltrazuril inhibits the intracellular development of the infectious agents and controls them at all stages of their life cycle. Providing an early and appropriate treatment it has the added benefit of greatly reducing the use of antibiotics as the risk of secondary infections is much lower.”

About Bayer HealthCare

Bayer HealthCare, a subsidiary of Bayer AG, is one of the world’s leading innovative companies in the health care and medical products industry. The company combines the activities of the Animal Health, Consumer Care, Diabetes Care, and Pharmaceuticals divisions. Bayer HealthCare’s aim is to discover, develop, manufacture and market products that will improve human and animal health worldwide.

With sales of €956 million (2007), the Animal Health Division is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of veterinary drugs. The division produces and markets approximately 100 different animal health and care products worldwide for livestock and companion animals.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those described in Bayer’s published reports, These reports are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

Lykele van der Broek

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