Comparative efficacy of ivermectin and fenbendazole against ancylostomiasis in dogs

Abstract

The present experiment was carried ut to assess the comparative e cacy of ivermectin and fenbendazole individually for anthelmintic therapy for the hookworm infested dogs. Dogs presented to the Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine or Veterinary Clinical Complex, Bhubaneswar were randomly screened for Ancylostoma caninum infection and the positive dogs were selected for the therapeutic trial Faecal samples were collected randomly from presented dogs immediately after defaecation or from the rectum directly using a faecal scoop. The collected sample was examined by oatation technique to detect the positive cases of Ancylostoma caninum infection. The dogs with normal clinical parameters and no eggs or ova in the faeces were included in in group 1 (n=12). Dogs with faecal sample positive for Ancylostoma caninum ova were recruited for the comparative study (n=24) which were grouped into two groups consisting of 12 dogs in each (group 2 and 3). Group 2 dogs (n=12) were treated with ivermectin at 200 µg/kg body weight once orally repeated after 15 days with proper supportive therapy each time. Group 3 (n=12) were treated with fenbendazole at 50 mg/kg body weight once orally repeated after 15 days with proper supportive therapy each time.Haematological examinations and serum biochemical tests were carried out in all groups each time on day 0, 15 and 30 of the experiment. The therapeutic e cacy of both the drugs was calculated on the basis of number of animals found free of Ancylostoma infection as determined by faecal sample examination and reduction in EPG count of the faeces of the group following the treatment. The reduction in eggs per gram (EPG) count on day 15 and day 30 was more signi cant in group 2 than group 3. The mean EPG count in fenbendazole-treated dogs reduced signi cantly to 24.17 + 11.44 on day 15 from day 0 level of 1650.00 + 247.25. The value again reduced from day 0 to become nil on day 30 .The 15th day after treatment, mean ± SE values of protein, albumin and globulin were changed to 5.63 ± 0.12, 2.64 ± 0.12 and 2.99 ± 0.15 g/dl, respectively. The 30th day after treatment the values were 6.23 ± 0.14, 3.20 ± 0.18 and 3.03 ± 0.21 g/dl, respectively. The total protein and albumin values were signi cantly changed by 15th day and 30th day at 1% level of signi cance as compared to that of day 0 in group 2 and 3 respectively.Following treatment with ivermectin, the 15 th day haematological values increased signi cantly at 1% level (P<0.01) of signi cance. There was signi cant increase in the values at 1% level on the 30 th day compared to day 0. The mean values were non-signi cantly comparable to the healthy control group except PCV and TEC on the 30 th day.