Anticoccidial Drugs Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2023 - 2028)

Anticoccidial Drugs Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2023 - 2028)

The anticoccidial drugs market is projected to register a CAGR of 4.1% during the forecast period.

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, a short-term negative impact was seen on the market due to decreased visits to veterinary hospitals and clinics. Healthcare services were significantly reduced due to social distancing measures taken by governments across the globe. According to a February 2021 article published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science, dog owners also feared the COVID-19 infection and its spread, leading to fewer disease diagnoses for pets. Additionally, the study above also indicated that, like many other professions, veterinarians were significantly impacted by the onset of COVID-19 in the initial phase of the pandemic. However, the pandemic drove pet owners to email, text, and even video call veterinarians on a scale never seen before. The number of veterinarians offering digital or remote consultations increased by 20% as a result of the pandemic, with almost half of the veterinarians (47%) offering online services. This surge in interest and demand for online veterinary services is rapidly changing the pet care landscape.

A significant burden of coccidiosis in animals across the globe is expected to boost the market. Coccidiosis is one of the most severe enteric problems in the poultry industry. The most catastrophic Eimeria tenella outbreaks occurred in the early stages of intensive chicken farming. The coccidia species Eimeria tenella produces severe hemorrhages and hypovolemic shock, both of which are fatal for the infected bird. However, subclinical coccidiosis is responsible for an even greater proportion of production losses caused by damage to intestinal cells which further leads to decreased body weights, increased feed conversion rates, a lack of flock uniformity, difficulties with skin pigmentation, and, in the end, mortality.

Moreover, Eimeria is a genus of apicomplexan parasites that includes various species capable of causing the disease coccidiosis in animals such as cattle, poultry, dogs, cats, and smaller ruminants, including sheep and goats. According to a research article published in August 2022 by Anthony Andrew, nearly 20 or more Eimeria species have been identified in cattle feces worldwide. According to the article, clinical infection usually begins at 1-2 months of age because coccidiosis rarely manifests in the first three weeks of life. Thus, the burden of coccidiosis among the target animals of a specific age demands the availability of the anticoccidial drugs. As a result, market growth is expected during the analysis period.

A significant rise in the adoption of pet animals, including dogs, cats, and even horses, as companions of human beings, has been observed over recent years. Furthermore, farm animals such as cattle and swine are being taken in for a variety of commercial reasons. Because of their promising economic conditions, industrialized economies account for a disproportionately significant share of animal ownership. For instance, according to the 2022 published data by the Pet Food Manufacturers Association (United Kingdom), 17.4 million or 62% households in the United Kingdom owned pets in 2022. As the pet owners are more concerned and aware of the safety of their pets, this is likely to create demand for preventive and curative advanced therapeutic products, thereby boosting the market growth.

While these factors are expected to propel the growth of the studied market over the forecast period, the availability of alternative treatment methods in the market is anticipated to hamper the market growth.

The companion animal segment in the anticoccidial drugs market is expected to hold a major market share, largely due to the increased adoption of companion animals. Besides, the advanced healthcare infrastructure in the region is also contributing to market growth.

Additionally, as per the Merck & Co., Inc. data updated in August 2022, the Isospora species is the most common cause of coccidiosis in cats and dogs. Almost every cat gets infected by Isospora felis in its lifetime. Additionally, as per the source mentioned above, coccidiosis generally occurs in young animals in facilities with a high population and potential for contamination. Thus, this disease may become a problem in breeding or boarding catteries and kennels. This burden of coccidiosis among companion animals creates opportunities for developing anticoccidial drugs, which is expected to contribute to segment growth.

Furthermore, data updated by Kingsdale Animal Hospital in January 2022 stated that coccidia is one of the most common intestinal parasites found in dogs, and the prevalence of coccidia is 50% in dogs with a variation in incidence. Thus, this shows nearly half of the dog population globally is infected with coccidiosis and is anticipated to create demand for anticoccidial drugs which is likely to contribute to the market growth.

Additionally, the adoption of companion animals is rising globally as a result of the affection between humans and animals, which is widely acknowledged as an effective way to reduce stress during a period of uncertainty and assist in easing depression and anxiety due to social isolation, which is likely to propel the segment's growth over the forecast period. As per the UK's Pet Food Manufacturers' Association's data (PFMA), there were around 34 million pets in the UK in 2022, including 12 million cats and 12 million dogs, along with 3.2 million small mammals such as guinea pigs and hamsters. The trend is further expected to grow during the forecast period, which is projected to boost the market growth.

North America currently dominates the anticoccidial drugs market and is expected to continue its stronghold for a few more years. Factors such as rising animal adoption and increasing per capita animal healthcare expenditure contribute to the region's market growth.

The increasing trend of pet adoption in the United States is predicted to propel market growth. For instance, according to the National Pet Owners Survey of 2021–2022, conducted by the American Pet Products Association (APPA), around 70% of United States households owned a pet, which equates to 90.5 million homes, including 45.3 million cats and 69 million dogs. This growing adoption of companion animals that are more prone to fungal diseases such as coccidiosis is expected to boost the demand for anticoccidial drugs over the forecast period.

In addition, companion animal or pet ownership is increasing in other countries, such as Canada and Mexico. The data published by “Pet Keen” in May 2022 showed that nearly 38% of Canadian households owned a cat, while 35% owned a dog in 2021. Also, the source mentioned above estimated that pet owners in Canada are spending more money on their pets than before, and 17% of owners are willing to spend more than USD 500 every year for their pet healthcare. Besides, several research have shown that coccidiosis is more prevalent among pet dogs and cats and awareness about the same is also increasing among pet owners. This increasing awareness among pet parents is expected to create demand for the availability of innovative drugs thereby driving the market growth.

The anticoccidial drugs market is competitive with the presence of several players. Major market players primarily focus on continuous product development while adopting growth strategies such as mergers, acquisitions, and partnerships. Major players include Boehringer Ingelheim, Ceva, Elanco Animal Health, Merck, Virbac, and Zoetis.

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