pyrantel and Toxocariasis

Topics: Ancylostomatoidea; Animals; Anthelmintics; Cat Diseases; Cats; Drug Therapy, Combination; Hookworm Infections; Macrolides; Praziquantel; Pyrantel; Single-Blind Method; Toxocara; Toxocariasis; Treatment Outcome

Forty 11- to 12-week-old helminth-naive Beagles were categorized by sex and weight and randomly assigned to 4 treatment groups (group 1, ivermectin/pyrantel pamoate; group 2, milbemycin oxime; group 3, untreated control; group 4, diethylcarbamazine/oxibendazole). Each pup was inoculated PO with approximately 100 infective Ancylostoma caninum larvae and 100 larvated Toxocara canis eggs on day 0, and repeatedly at 7-day intervals thereafter until day 56. Administration of anthelmintics also began on day 0, and subsequent treatments were administered according to label recommendations at 30-day intervals (groups 1 and 2) or daily (group 4) for a period of 90 consecutive days. Body weight and A caninum and T canis fecal egg counts were measured at weekly intervals, and clinical observations of health status were conducted twice daily. Pups were euthanatized on day 90, and total gastrointestinal worm burdens were determined. Compared with mean A caninum egg counts of group-3 control pups, egg counts in group-1 pups were significantly (P < or = 0.0001) lower on every sampling days 35, 42, 49, 63, 70, 77, and 84, and were consistently the highest of all treated groups, and egg counts of group-4 pups were significantly (P < or = 0.0001) lower on every sampling date from day 14 to day 90, and were consistently the lowest of all treated groups. Compared with mean A caninum egg counts of group-3 pups, egg counts in group-1 and group-2 pups were lower by 97.8 and 90.8%, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Age Factors; Analysis of Variance; Ancylostomiasis; Animals; Anthelmintics; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Benzimidazoles; Diethylcarbamazine; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Ivermectin; Macrolides; Male; Parasite Egg Count; Pyrantel; Toxocariasis

Toxocara vitulorum infection in large ruminants is endemic in many tropical countries and particularly in South-East Asia. A single treatment of calves with pyrantel at 14-21 days of age effectively controls the parasite. Despite this treatment being readily available, T. vitulorum infection remains common and widespread. To understand drivers of effective control of T. vitulorum infection, we examined treatment practices and knowledge of smallholder farmers of this parasite plus determined annual calf morbidity and mortality and identified potential risk factors for these estimates. Interviews were conducted with 273 smallholder farmers who had calves tested for T. vitulorum 4-6 months earlier. Reproductive rates of 0.6 and 0.4 calf per annum in cattle and buffalo respectively, and annual calf morbidity and mortality of 42.6% (CI 0.38-0.47) and 37.3% (CI 0.33-0.42) respectively, were identified. Interviewed farmers had either none (80.6%) or only minimal (19.4%) knowledge about T. vitulorum and only 2.5% of the farmers treated their calves for T. vitulorum using the recommended control regime. Multivariable logistic regression analyses with random effects showed that the number of adult cattle per household, T. vitulorum infection status of the household herd and farmer knowledge of T. vitulorum were significantly associated with calf morbidity and mortality. Financial analysis using partial budgeting showed a net benefit of USD 3.69, 7.46, 11.09 or 14.86 per calf when treating calves with pyrantel and attributing 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% of morbidity and mortality to T. vitulorum infection. The study identified that poor reproduction, high calf morbidity and mortality combined with very limited farmer knowledge and effective control of endemic Toxocariasis, contribute to suboptimal large ruminant production in mixed smallholder farming systems in South-East Asia. The large net benefit per calf achievable by a single pyrantel treatment should drive implementation of this intervention by smallholder farmers, especially as demand for livestock products continues to increase in this region and forces a change to more production oriented farming. To support this, continued capacity building that ensures knowledge transfer of best practice T. vitulorum control to smallholder farmers is required.

Topics: Animals; Antinematodal Agents; Asia, Southeastern; Buffaloes; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Female; Humans; Logistic Models; Multivariate Analysis; Pyrantel; Rural Population; Surveys and Questionnaires; Toxocara; Toxocariasis

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of feline intestinal parasites in Finland and to determine the possible risk factors for infection. Altogether 411 feline fecal samples were analyzed with a flotation method to reveal helminth eggs and protozoan oocysts. Of the samples, 402 were also screened for Giardia species antigens with a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. The cat owners completed a questionnaire. Toxocara cati prevalence was 5.4% and Toxascaris leonina 0.2%. Taenia species eggs were found in 1.5% of the samples and Isospora felis in 0.7%, whilst 3.2% of the samples tested positive for Giardia species antigen. Risk factors for Toxocara/Toxascaris species infection included being a non-pedigree cat, having access to the outdoors, living outside of the cities and receiving home-made food. Pedigree cats were at greater risk of contracting Giardia duodenalis. The majority of the cat owners (62.4%) treated their cat with anthelmintics 2-4 times per year.

Topics: Animals; Anthelmintics; Cat Diseases; Cats; Feces; Female; Finland; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic; Male; Parasitic Diseases, Animal; Pilot Projects; Prevalence; Pyrantel; Risk Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; Toxocariasis

In the present study, we investigated the in vitro effects on the motility and morphology of tissues and organs of Toxocara canis of the two drug components of Drontal Plus and Welpan, pyrantel and fenbendazole (the active metabolite of the prodrug febantel), both alone and in combination. Although there was no significant difference observable between the effects of the single drugs and the drug combination on worm motility, the synergistic effect of pyrantel and fenbendazole was manifested by morphological alterations seen by light and electron microscopy. Thus, an earlier onset of damage to worm tissues and organs could be observed compared to the application of the individual drugs. In addition, a higher degree of damage and an increased number of vital organs were involved. There was dramatic, significantly greater and irreversible damage to the hypodermis, longitudinal muscle, intestine, nerve cords and genital organs induced by the pyrantel/fenbendazole combination. We hypothesise that these synergistic effects will also take place when dogs are treated either with Drontal Plus or Welpan in which lower dosages will be sufficient to destroy the worms.

Topics: Animals; Antinematodal Agents; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Drug Synergism; Fenbendazole; Guanidines; Male; Microscopy, Electron; Organ Specificity; Parasitic Sensitivity Tests; Pyrantel; Toxocara canis; Toxocariasis

Treatment of bovine calves 10-16 days old with an anthelmintic which is effective against immature Toxocara vitulorum killed the parasites, there was no new infection and recontamination of the environment was precluded. When the management of the program was delegated to the livestock officers, approximately 3% of calves scheduled for treatment developed patent infections. The prevalences of toxocarosis on the different farms were correlated with annual rainfall, probably because the longer dry periods associated with lower rainfall killed infective eggs in the environment. The treatment schedules prevailing before the study commenced were ineffective. The prevalence of toxocarosis in the bovine calves on farms in the area with an annual rainfall of about 1000 mm was lower than that in buffalo calves studied previously in the same area.

Topics: Animals; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Female; Male; Prevalence; Pyrantel; Rain; Sri Lanka; Toxocariasis

The efficacy of paste and granule formulations of pyrantel pamoate against concurrent infections of Toxocara cati and Ancylostoma tubaeforme in cats was examined in a controlled trial. Three groups of 8 cats received either no medication (controls) or pyrantel pamoate in paste or granule formulations at a dosage of 20 mg/kg of body weight. After administration of the paste formulation, fecal egg counts of A tubaeforme and T cati were decreased by 98.6 and 96.4%, respectively, and 100% of hookworms and 93.5% of ascarids were removed from the intestine. After administration of the granule formulation, fecal egg counts of A tubaeforme and T cati were decreased by 99.4 and 78.2%, respectively, and 100% of adult hookworms and 88.9% of ascarids were removed. All reductions of egg counts and worm numbers were significant (P less than 0.01). The clinical safety of pyrantel pamoate was evaluated in 4- to 6-week-old kittens. Three groups of 10 kittens received either no medication (controls) or pyrantel pamoate in paste or granule formulations at the rate of 100 mg/kg for 3 consecutive days. Adverse effects were not observed in young kittens following administration of the high dose of pyrantel pamoate.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Ancylostomiasis; Animals; Cat Diseases; Cats; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; Parasite Egg Count; Pyrantel; Pyrantel Pamoate; Risk Factors; Toxocariasis

Treatment of buffalo calves (Bubalus bubalis) at different times after birth demonstrated that transmission of Toxocara vitulorum from the cow to the calf via milk occurs in all calves during the first 2 days after birth, decreases to 53% by 6 days, 10% by 8-9 days and 2% from Day 10 onwards. This may be because the larvae are no longer in the milk or because the calf has become resistant to the establishment of a new infection. The result also emphasizes the importance of mammary transmission of the parasite. Against immature parasites the efficacy of pyrantel and levamisole was 97%; febantel was 100% on one farm, only 35% on another; piperazine 42% and thiabendazole 35%. Santonin was ineffective in four calves. Against mature parasites the efficacy of pyrantel was 100%; febantel was 100% on one farm, only 35% on another; oral levamisole 83%; cutaneous levamisole 73%; oxfendazole 89%; and piperazine 57%. Nevertheless, piperazine reduced the infection to levels which were probably not pathogenic. In general, the efficacy against mature parasites was similar to that against immature parasites. Treatment of 10-16-day-old calves with an anthelmintic, which is effective against immature parasites, is recommended. This procedure greatly reduces contamination of the environment and also precludes the pathogenic effect of a large number of immature or mature parasites.

Topics: Animals; Anthelmintics; Benzimidazoles; Buffaloes; Female; Guanidines; Levamisole; Milk; Piperazine; Piperazines; Pyrantel; Santonin; Thiabendazole; Time Factors; Toxocariasis

Conventional chemoprophylaxis of canine toxocariasis is based upon the treatment of young puppies. It is proposed that physiological considerations and the complexity of the host-parasite relationship in the case of Toxocara canis demand that anthelmintic evaluation should properly be conducted in such animals rather than in adolescent or adult dogs. A screening model using the critical trial technique in early weaned pups gave variable results even with compounds known to be of high efficacy in older dogs. Circumstantial evidence suggested that this inconsistency may be related to the rate of passage of ingesta through such young animals. More satisfactory results were obtained by pairing unweaned naturally infected puppies by weight and sex and treating one of each pair with the test compound. Natural in utero and transmammary infection was found to give fairly consistent worm-burdens within each litter and a good indication of efficacy could therefore be estimated by comparing post mortem worm-counts. On this basis, the apparent efficacies of pyrantel pamoate (5 mg kg-1) and piperazine (100 mg kg-1) were found to be 83.5 and 82.5%, respectively. This method was extended to evaluate a prophylactic programme in which anthelmintic therapy was given to pups when aged 10, 20 and 30 days. Intestinal T. canis populations were reduced, at 35 days of age, by between 94.2% and 98.0%. This programme increased overall weight gains between 10 and 30 days of age by 18% (P less than 0.05) although there was great variation between litters. The biggest response was observed in male pups between 20 and 30 days old.

Topics: Animals; Animals, Suckling; Anthelmintics; Ascariasis; Body Weight; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Drug Administration Schedule; Feces; Female; Male; Parasite Egg Count; Phenyl Ethers; Piperazine; Piperazines; Pyrantel; Pyrantel Pamoate; Thiocyanates; Toxocariasis

Topics: Animals; Anthelmintics; Ascariasis; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Drug Combinations; Hookworm Infections; Pyrantel; Pyrantel Pamoate; Toxocariasis; Trichuriasis

Topics: Ancylostomiasis; Animals; Ascariasis; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Pyrantel; Pyrantel Pamoate; Toxocariasis

Eleven dogs dosed at approximately the recommended rate of 1.029 mg of pyrantel pamoate/kg of body weight were used. The efficacy against Ancylostoma in the 11 dogs was 99% (av; min-max, 94-99%). In 4 dogs with both Toxocara and Ancylostoma, average efficacy against Toxocara was 96%, and in 5 dogs with both Toxoscaris and Ancylostoma, efficacy against Toxascaris was 93%. Only 2 dogs of the 11 were infected with the 3 species; the average efficacy was 90%. There appeared to be no activity against the Trichuris found in one dog and the Dipylidium found in another. Treated dogs did not vomit or have other noticeable ill effects.

Topics: Ancylostomiasis; Animals; Ascariasis; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Nematode Infections; Pyrantel; Pyrantel Pamoate; Toxocariasis