Comparative anthelmintic efficacy of fenbendazole, tetramisole and morantel tartrate against ascariasis in buffalo calves.

Abstract

Eighty 1- to 6-month-old buffalo calves naturally infected with Toxocara vitulorum were randomly divided into 4 groups of 20. Group A received 5 mg/kg fenbendazole; group B received 15 mg/kg tetramisole; group C received 10 mg/kg morantel tartrate; group D remained as untreated controls. Anthelmintic efficacy was estimated on the basis of the reduction of the faecal egg count on days 0, 3, 7 and 18 post-treatment. Animals which still showed a faecal egg count on day 18 were given a second drug dose and further faecal egg counts were made on days 21 and 28. By day 18, tetramisole showed 90% efficacy against T. vitulorum, fenbendazole showed 72% efficacy and morantel tartrate showed 70.6% efficacy. After the second drug treatment, drug efficacy was 100, 92.4 and 90.6%, respectively. No adverse effects were observed and the general condition of all the treated animals improved gradually after treatment.