The effect of albendazole controlled release capsules and moxidectin injection treatment on faecal egg count and body weight of 18 month old ewes in the autumn

R. Kempthorne, A.S. Familton and R.W. McAnulty

Animal and Veterinary Sciences Group, P.O. Box 84, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand.

Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production, 1996, 56: 87-90

Sixty 18 month old Romney ewes were drenched orally with ivermectin at twice the recommended dose rate (400µg/kg) when introduced to the trial area on the 8 March 1995. Eight days later all animals were weighed and faecal egg counts (FEC) performed ( all FEC -ve at this time) and ewes were allocated on the basis of liveweight (LW) to 1 of 3 equal sized groups (n=20). Treatments commenced at this time (Day 0) with Group 1 receiving moxidectin injection (Vetdectin Injection, Cyanamid/Ancare Ltd, Auckland) at 200 µg/kg, Group 2 receiving an albendazole controlled release capsule (Extender 100, Nufarm, Ltd, Auckland) and Group 3 serving as controls. All ewes were grazed on parasite contaminated pasture with this challenge being supplemented by the oral administration of 15,000 L3 Ostertagia circumcinta and 9,000 L3 Trichostrongylus colubriformis twice weekly until Day 70 of the trial. The trial ran for 84 days with FEC and LW recorded weekly.

Faecal egg counts were 0 until Day 21 of the trial period in control ewes. A significant suppression of faecal egg output (p > .005) occurred in both treatment groups between Day 0 and 49. From Day 50 eggs appeared in the faeces of the moxidectin treated group but suppression of FEC continued in the albendazole CRC treated ewes until the trial ended on Day 84. Control ewes FEC peaked at 1850 epg on day 63 of the trial. Mean ewe LW for Groups 1, 2 and 3 on Day 0 and Day 84 of the trial were 47.4 (SEM 1.45), 48.4 kg (SEM 1.53), 48.2 (SEM 1.96) and 52.4 kg (SEM 1.84), 54.5 kg (SEM 1.31) and 50.0 kg (SEM 2.47) respectively. The difference (4.54 kg) between the live weight of the control ewes (n = 5) and the albendazole CRC treated ewes (n = 5) was significant (p > 0.05).

The trial showed that 18 month old ewes were susceptible to parasitic challenge and that considerable protection could be obtained by using either moxidectin injection or albendazole CRC. The trial confirmed claims that moxidectin injection will prevent parasite reinfection for 21 - 28 days after treatment.

Keywords: NZSAPAB; parasite; sheep; ewes; moxidectin; albendazole; CRC; faecal egg count; liveweight.

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Last Updated 18-03-1997