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Further evaluation in field tests of the activity of three anthelmintics (fenbendazole, oxibendazole, and pyrantel pamoate) against the ascarid Parascaris equorum in horse foals on eight farms in Central Kentucky (2009–2010)

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Abstract

The activity of three anthelmintics (fenbendazole–FBZ; oxibendazole–OBZ; and pyrantel pamoate–PRT) was ascertained against the ascarid Parascaris equorum in horse foals on eight farms in Central Kentucky (2009–2010) in field tests. A total of 316 foals were treated, and 168 (53.2%) were passing ascarid eggs on the day of treatment. Evaluation of drug efficacy was determined qualitatively by comparing the number of foals passing ascarid eggs in their feces before and after treatment. The main purpose was to obtain data on current activity of these compounds against ascarids. Additionally, the objective was to compare these findings with those from earlier data on the efficacy of these three compounds on nematodes in foals in this geographical area. Efficacies (average) for the foals ranged for FBZ (10 mg/kg) from 50% to 100% (80%), for OBZ (10 mg/kg) from 75% to 100% (97%), and for PRT at 1× (6.6 mg base/kg) from 0% to 71% (2%) and at 2× (13.2 mg base/kg) 0% to 0% (0%). Although the efficacy varied among the drugs, combined data for all farms indicated a significant reduction of ascarid infections for FBZ (p < 0.0001) and OBZ (p < 0.0001) but not for PRT (p = 0.0953).

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Acknowledgments

This investigation (paper no. 11-14-027) was made in connection with a project of the University of Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station and is published with the approval of the director. The authors thank Dr. Igor Dzeverin from the Institute of Zoology NAS of Ukraine for his consultations in statistically processing the results. Research on the animals used in the study was approved by the University of Kentucky Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) under Protocol 2008–0257.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Veterinary Science, Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546–0099, USA

    Eugene T. Lyons, Sharon C. Tolliver & Sandra S. Collins

  2. I.I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, vul. B. Khmelnytskogo, 15, Kiev, 01601, Ukraine

    Tetiana A. Kuzmina

Authors
  1. Eugene T. Lyons
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  2. Sharon C. Tolliver
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  3. Tetiana A. Kuzmina
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  4. Sandra S. Collins
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Correspondence to Eugene T. Lyons.

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Lyons, E.T., Tolliver, S.C., Kuzmina, T.A. et al. Further evaluation in field tests of the activity of three anthelmintics (fenbendazole, oxibendazole, and pyrantel pamoate) against the ascarid Parascaris equorum in horse foals on eight farms in Central Kentucky (2009–2010). Parasitol Res 109, 1193–1197 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-011-2379-3

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