Authors : Bersissa Kumsa, Etana Debela and Bekele Megersa
Abstract: A study was conducted to determine and compare the efficacy of the albendazole, tetramizole and ivermectin against gastrointestinal nematodes in naturally infected goats in Ziway in southern Oromia. About 60 male goats were divided into four groups of 15 animals each: the 1st group served as the untreated control, the 2nd was treated with albendazole, the 3rd with tetramisole and the 4th with ivermectin. Faecal samples were collected on day 0 before treatment and again day on 12 post treatment. Efficacy for each anthelmintic was determined by the Faecal Egg Count Reduction Test (FECRT). About 100% efficacy against strongyle and Trichuris sp. was recorded in goats treated with albendazole and ivermectin. On the contrary, low efficacy of 90.1 and 63% against strongyle and Trichuris sp. was observed respectively in goats treated with tetramisole. Likewise, low efficacy of 62, 38 and 44% against Moniezia sp. was recorded in goats treated with albendzole, tetramisole and ivermectin, respectively. Coprocultures from all both pre and post-treatment samples revealed the pre-dominance of Haemonchus sp. The results of the study showed the presence of inverse relationship between the body condition score and their respective mean EPG (R2 = 0.99), suggesting the negative effect of parasitic load on the performance of goats. A questionnaire survey conducted to gather information on methods of control practices of nematodes of goats revealed lack of basic awareness among owners of goats about the best use and efficacy of anthelmintics. In addition, it indicated that farmers in the study area apply many practices that may lower the efficacy of anthelmintics and favor the emergence of anthelmintic resistance. Benzimidazoles group of anthelmintics were reported to be used at the most frequency followed by imidazothiazoles and the avermectins were used at lowest frequency. Further detailed investigations are necessary to clarify the current status of efficacy of the widely used anthelmintics in different agroecology, species of animals and management systems in Ethiopia.
Bersissa Kumsa, Etana Debela and Bekele Megersa, 2010. Comparative Efficacy of Albendazole, Tetramisole and Ivermectin Against Gastrointestinal Nematodes in Naturally Infected Goats in Ziway, Oromia Regional State (Southern Ethiopia). Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 9: 2905-2911.