Comparative Efficacy of Ivermectin and Moxidectin against Strongyloid Nematodes in Horses

Zahida Fatima*, 1 Muhammad Ashraf, 2 Muhammad S Khan, 3 Muhammad A Khan, 4 Muhammad K. Shahzad, and 4 Muhammad Younus

Animal Health Laboratories, Animal Sciences Institute, National Agricultural Research Centre, Park Road, Islamabad, Pakistan. 45500. (*Corresponding author) 1Departmentof Pharmacology, 2 Department of Clinical Medicine & Surgery, 3 Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, and 4 Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore, Pakistan

Accepted: July 02, 2007

Abstract :

This study was designed to evaluate the comparative efficacy of Ivermectin and Moxidectin against strongyloid nematodes in horses. A total of 50 horses of different age and sex, stationed at different places were examined. Faecal samples were collected from those horses and examined by direct smear method. Those animals having positive result by direct smear, were further examined for their EPG Of these, 30 horses with moderate to severe EPG (800-2000) for gastro-intestinal parasites were retained for further study. They were divided into 3 equal groups (A, B and C) .The first group was administered Ivermectin subcutaneously at dose rate of 1mg/50kg body weight. The second with Moxidectin subcutaneously at dose rate of 1mg/50kg body weight while the third group was kept as untreated control. The faecal samples were collected from each group at 3rd, 7th and 14th day post treatment and their EPG was calculated. Reduction in EPG was found to be 28.8 and 205 times higher with Ivermectin and Moxidectin, respectively as compared to control. Furthermore, reduction in EPG was found to be 7.4 times higher with Moxidectin compared to Ivermectin. Keywords: comparative efficacy, Ivermectin, Moxidectin, gastro-intestinal nematodes, horses.