Anthelmintic efficiency of synthetic and herbal compounds against gastrointestinal nematodes in naturally infected goats

Abstract

The present study was aimed to assess the anthelmintic resistance against gastrointestinal (GI) nematode infections in goats. GI nematode infected goats (n=120) were randomly assigned to six treated groups, and untreated control group. Six treatments were given and faecal egg count reduction (FECR) was performed. Significant differences (P<0.05) were observed between the prevalence rate of different nematodes and their FEC levels. Ten nematodes species, Haemonchus contortus, Ostertagia, Trichostrongylus, Strongyloides, Oesophagostomum, Nematodirus, Bunostomum, Chabertia ovina, Marshallagia and Cooperia were identified. The FECR for the six anthelmintics showed significant (P<0.05) reduction in eggs per gram of feces of treated groups compared to control group on 3rd, 6th, 12th and 30th days post treatment. The highest efficacy was recorded of Oxyclozanide + Oxfendazole + Cobalt + Selenium treated group at 12th and 6th days of post treatment (99.3% and 98.6% respectively); whereas Levamisole + Oxyclozanide + Selenium + Cobalt treated group showed highest efficiency (97.7%) at 30th day. In herbal anthelmintics, lowest efficacy (87.4%) was with Deedani treated group and Atreefal Deedan treated group showed high efficacy of 91.2%. The most efficacious time in all groups treated with anthelmintics was 12th and 30th day of post treatment against GI nematodes in goats. In conclusion, imported anthelmintics need efficacy testing before use and novel combination of anthelmintics holds potential to reduce the burden and resistance in nematodes for control purposes in small ruminants.

Keywords

• anthelmintics
• gastrointestinal nematod
• goats
• herbal medicines