Comparative efficacy of albendazole, levamisole and ivermectin treatment against gastro-intestinal nematodes in ewes during pregnancy and their effect upon productive efficiency [electronic resource].

Includes references.

The anthelmintic efficacies of Albendazole, Levamisole and ivermectin treatment were studied on twenty five pregnant ewes naturally infected with gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN). The pregnant ewes were divided into five equal groups. The first group was left as untreated control, ewes of the second group treated with Albendazole on two recommended doses with three weeks interval. The ewes of the third group were treated with Levamisole on two recommended doses with three weeks interval. The fourth group were treated with Albendazole, and after three weeks they were given a second dose with Levamisole. The fifth group were treated with one recommended dose of ivermectin. Feacal samples were collected from all ewes before treatment and every seven days post-treatment throughout the study. The anthelmintic activity of combination of Albendazole with Levamisole treatment and ivermectin were greater than the other used drugs. Group comparison by ANDV A test for the measured haematological and biochemical parameters sixty days post-treatment, showed that the untreated ewes had significantly « 0.05) lower haemoglobin concentration, serum total protein, albumin, calcium and phosphorus concentrations, with increased serum cholesterol concentration, total leukocytic count and eosinophilia. In Albendazole treated group, these parameters improved moderately except serum cholesterol concentration compared with the con!rol group. In Levamisole, combination of Albendazole with Levamisole and ivermectin treatments, these parameters were improved and reached to the normal levels. GIN exerted a negative impact on the lamb live weights from infested ewes, as seen by improving these weights following anthelmintic treatment of ewes. Group comparison of the means of the lamb live weights between the different groups revealed non-significant effect of Albendazole and significant (< 0.05) higher effect of Levamisole, combination of Albendazole and Levamisole treatment and ivermectin treatment. Key word: Albendazole, Levamisole, Ivermectin, nematodes, pregnancy, productive efficiency.

Summary in Arabic.