Oxfendazole flukicidal activity in pigs

ORTIZ, P., TERRONES, S., HOBAN, C., CEBALLOS, L., MORENO, L., CANTON, C., DONADEU, M., LANUSSE, C., ALVAREZ, L.

ACTA TROPICA

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2014

0001-706X

Although oxfendazole (OFZ) is a well know broad-spectrum benzimidazole anthelmintic, the 3 assessment of its potential trematodicidal activity remains unexplored. OFZ administration at single 4 high doses has been recommended to control Taenia solium cysticercus in pigs. The current study 5 investigated the flukicidal activity obtained after a single high (30 mg/kg) oral dose of OFZ in pigs 6 harbouring a natural Fasciola hepatica infection. Sixteen (16) local ecotype pigs were randomly 7 allocated into two (2) experimental groups of 8 animals each named as follow: Untreated control and 8 OFZ treated, in which animals received OFZ (Synanthic®, Merial Ltd., 9.06% suspension) orally at 30 9 mg/kg. At seven (7) days post-treatment, all the animals were sacrificed and direct adult liver fluke 10 counts were performed following the WAAVP guidelines. None of the animals involved in this 11 experiment showed any adverse event during the study. OFZ treatment as a single 30 mg/kg oral dose 12 showed a 100% efficacy against F. hepatica. In conclusion, the trial described here demonstrated an 13 excellent OFZ activity against F. hepatica in naturally infected pigs, after its administration at a single 14 oral dose of 30 mg/kg.