JOURNAL OF ANIMAL AND VETERINARY ADVANCES, cilt.7, sa.5, ss.589-594, 2008 (SCI-Expanded)
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of anthelmintic treatment with Oxyclozanid + Oxfendazole in different formulation (paste and tablet) on parasite load and metabolic status in sheep. Forty five sheep, infected with various gastrointestinal parasites and kept on a grazing flock, were evenly divided into 3 groups. Sheep in the control group did not receive any treatment. The sheep in the remaining groups received the same dose of Oxyclozanid (5 mg kg(-1) body weight) and Oxfendazole (13.5 mg kg(-1) body weight) in combination either as tablet or as paste. Faeces and blood samples were collected pre-treatment (day 0) and on day 14 post-treatment. Several gastrointestinal nematode parasites were detected in the faecal samples. Eggs PerGram (EPG) on days 0 and 14 were 100 +/- 18 and 78 +/- 8 in CG, 96 +/- 12 and 6 +/- 3 in TG and 76 +/- 9 and 2 +/- 2 in the PG, respectively. Serum total protein and globulin concentrations increased significantly (p<0.05) in CG and PG on day 14 compare to pre-treatment levels. In both sampling times total protein levels did not differ whereas a slight decrease in paste group and a significant decrease in tablet group were detected concerning globulin level, but no significant difference was detected between the tablet group and paste group on day 14 post-treatment. In paste group serum albumin level increased (p<0.05) on day 14 compare to baseline level. Compare to control group, albumin level slightly increased in tablet group, whereas it significantly increased in paste group on day 14 post-treatment. On day 14 in paste group Pi, Mg and Cu levels were higher (p<0.05) than the post-treatment levels of the remaining groups. A combination of Oxyclozanid+Oxfendazole is effective to eliminate parasite burden in sheep. Drug formulation does not have any influence on the metabolic status of the sheep.