Authors : H. I .Seri , T. Hassan , M.M. Salih , A.D. Abakar , A. A. Ismail and T. A. Tigani
Abstract: A study was conducted to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of doramectin administered intramuscularly and subcutaneously at a dose rate of 0.2 mg/kg to donkeys naturally infected with gastrointestinal nematodes in Khartoum State, Sudan. The study involved 34 donkeys, animals were randomly allocated to a non-medicated control group or doramectin treated groups (DT1 and DT2). On day 0, donkeys in DT1 received an intramuscular injection of doramectin (0.2 mg/kg), whereas those in group DT2 received a single subcutaneous injection of doramectin (0.2 mg/kg). Individual faecal egg counts were performed daily for the first week and then on days 14, 21, and 28. Between days 14 and 20, two animals from each group were slaughtered, and worm burdens were determined. Treatment efficacy was based on the mean faecal egg count reduction (FECR) 14 days post treatment. Faecal egg reduction of 100% was found after treatment with doramectin intramuscularly, but only 99.24% reduction was found after subcutaneous injection. At necropsy, only adult nematodes and mainly Strongylus vulgaris (L4) were recovered. Doramectin injected intramuscularly was highly efficacious against gastrointestinal nematodes of the donkey. Despite the fact that the drug has not being registered for use in donkeys, no abnormal clinical signs nor adverse reactions were observed in any of the donkeys treated with doramectin.
H. I .Seri , T. Hassan , M.M. Salih , A.D. Abakar , A. A. Ismail and T. A. Tigani , 2004. Therapeutic Efficacy of Doramectin Injectable Against Gastrointestinal Nematodes in Donkeys (Equus asinus) in Khartoum, Sudan . Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 3: 726-729.