The ability of diamphenethide to control immature Fasciola hepatica in sheep at a lower than standard dose level

Abstract

Groups of eight Welsh Mountain sheep were dosed with diamphenethide at the rate of 70 mg/kg bodyweight at either one, four, six or eight weeks after artificial infection with approximately 300 Fasciola hepatica metacercariae. Comparisons were made with similarly infected but undosed sheep and with sheep which were neither infected nor dosed. The good clearance of flukes up to six weeks of age (above 97 per cent on pooled data) was reflected in the plasma concentrations of the accepted liver damage marker enzymes glutamate dehydrogenase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase. Highly significant correlations were demonstrated between the numbers of flukes recovered, the plasma levels of these enzymes and haemoglobin and plasma albumin values. At 70 mg/kg, diamphenethide was shown to be able to control F hepatica populations of up to six weeks of age. The systematic use of diamphenethide at this dose level at intervals of up to six weeks during the period of metacercarial challenge should prevent ovine fascioliasis.