Comparative Efficiency, Persistent Effect, and Treatment Intervals Of Anthelmintics in Naturally Infected Donkeys in North Darfur, Sudan

Abstract

In afield survey conducted in El fashir city, North Darfur State 900 fecal samples of donkeys and 500 fecal samples of horses were examined for the presence of helminthes parasites by assessment of fecal eggs count during October 2011 to May 2012. The overall prevalence of infection with GIT parasites in donkeys and horses was found to be 24.64%. The prevalence of internal parasites in donkey and horses was 35.5% and 5%, respectively. About 51.25% of donkeys had single infection, whereas the remaining had 48.75% mixed infection, while in horses 92% had single infection and the remaining 8% mixed infection. The rate of infection in donkeys were 69.7%, 15.6% and 14.7% for mild, moderate and severe infection respectively, while the rate of infection in horses was 84% mild and 8% for both moderate and severe infection. Twenty four donkeys naturally infected with gastrointestinal nematodes were selected to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and persistent effect using abamectin 0.2 mg/kg body weight oral formulation single dose, abamectin 5 doses and single dose of 1% Ivermectin injectable solution at 0.2 mg/kg body weight. The animals were divided in four treated random groups of 6 donkeys each. Fecal egg counts was conducted 3 days before treatment daily and on day 7 in first week after treatment and then every week for 10 successive weeks. Both abamectin single dose, abamectin 5 doses and ivermectin single dose reduced the eggs counts per gram to zero on day 7 to day 49 in abamectin single dose and to day 56 in both abamectin 5 doses and ivermectin single dose. The percentage of efficacy of three medicated groups abamectin single dose, abamectin 5 doses and ivermectin against nematodes parasites were found to be 100% on day 14 post treatment. The persistent effect of single dose of abamectin was continuous to day 70, while in both abamectin 5 doses and ivermectin single dose extended to day 77. The treatment interval was 66.5±52 in abamectin single dose and 72.3±32.7 in both abamectin 5 doses and ivermectin single dose.

The same twenty four donkeys used to evaluate the toxicity of a single dose of abamectin paste formulation, abamectin for 5 successive days and ivermectin a single dose solution. Blood sample collected on day 7, 10, 14, 24 and 39, result was received post treatment compared to pretreatment level. Significant increase (p<0.05) showed in serum total protein, albumin and urea in three evaluated groups compared to day zero, while significant decrease and significant increase (p<0.05) showed in in creatinine, bilirubin,calcium and AST compared to day zero. Content of serum post treatment was normal value. No toxicity was observed in three evaluated groups. Abamectin and ivermectin were safe to use in donkeys and horses.