Determination of the activity of pyrantel tartrate against Sarcocystis neurona in gamma-interferon gene knockout mice

Abstract

Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) is the most important protozoal disease of horses in the United States. Some horse owners and equine clinicians believe that horses which are on daily pyrantel tartrate at 2.64 mg/kg for helminth prophylaxis are less likely to develop EPM. The present study examined the efficacy of pyrantel tartrate in preventing clinical disease in γ-interferon gene knockout ( BALB/ c-Ifng tm1ts ) mice. No activity was seen against sporocyst-induced Sarcocystis neurona infections in mice treated prophylacticly with 4–5 mg pyrantel tartrate per mouse per day in the drinking water.