Anthelmintic efficacy of three endectocides administered by oral route in horses

Abstract

In naturally gastrointestinal nematodes infected horses the anthelmintic efficacy of the endectocides ivermectin (IVM), doramectin (DRM) and moxidectin (MXD) was evaluated. Animals were evenly distributed to 4 experimental groups: Group I, non treated horses, control; Group II treated with an oral dose of 0.2 mg/kg of IVM by oral route; Group III treated with a reformulated oral dose of 0,2 mg/kg of DRM; Group IV treated with an oral dose of 0.4 mg/kg of MXD. Faecal samples for parasites eggs count and larval cultures were collected before treatment at 3,6,10,20,40,60,90,105,125,145 and 175 days postreatment. Results obtained showed a significant reduction (p <0,05) in the faecal eggs count in treated group, from day 3 to day 145 post treatment. This level of significance remained until day 175 post treatment only in the group treated with moxidectin.