Comparative efficacy of five anthelmintic drugs against a naturally acquired Fasciola species infection in sheep in Jumla, Nepal

Abstract

Fascioliasis is one of the important parasitic diseases in tropical and subtropical countries which limit productivity of ruminants. The aim of present study was to evaluate the efficacy of five different anthelmintics against liver fluke in a naturally infected sheep flock at Sheep and Goat Research Program, Guthichaur, Jumla. Altogether 30 sheep positive with Fasciola eggs were selected for the study. These 30 sheep were divided into six groups including control one and each group consisted five animals. Sheep of Group I, II, III, IV and V were treated with different anthelmintics viz. Albendazole, rafoxanide, oxyclozanide, oxyclozanide and levamisole combination, and triclabendazole respectively. Faecal samples were obtained from each animal per rectum on the day of treatment and again 1, 3, 7, 14 and 28 days post-treatment. The efficacy of the used anthelmintics was determined by faecal egg count reduction percent in which the fecal egg was investigated by sedimentation technique. The results for oxyclozanide, oxyclozanide and levamisole combination and triclabendazole indicated that these drugs were highly effective with faecal egg count being reduced by 100% by day 14 post-treatment. However, the results for albendazole and rafoxanide groups yielded lower efficacy levels, with faecal egg count reductions 92.8% and 91.8% respectively, over the period 28 days post-treatment. These results are highly indicative for albendazole and rafoxanide resistant Fasciola in sheep on this farm.