Critical Tests on Thiabendazole as an Anthelmintic in Sheep

The results of critical tests on thiabendazole given at three dose levels, 50 mg/kg, 80 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg, to groups of naturally parasitized lambs are reported. While the compound appeared to be efficient at all levels, the best results were obtained at 100 mg/kg. The total percentage removals of all worms present in the gut at these three dosage levels were 79.1 per cent at the 50 mg/kg level, 96.3 per cent at the 80 mg/kg level and 99.5 per cent at the 100 mg/kg level. No activity against T. ovis, Capillaria or Moniezia was observed. Useful activity in a limited number of lambs was observed against Dictyocaulus filaria especially at the 100 mg/kg level. This drug appeared to be completely effective at the 100 mg/kg level in removing tissue-phase parasites. Inhibitory activity against developing larvae in faecal cultures obtained 24 hours after dosing was also shown.At levels up to 500 mg/kg the drug appeared relatively non-toxic. The result at 800 mg/kg was complicated by the death of the treated animal 22 days after dosing from a septicaemia. Dosage at a level of 1.6 mg/kg proved rapidly fatal to a ewe. No effect on pregnant ewes or the lambs therefrom was observed at a dose level of 160 mg/kg. The most efficient level for routine treatment of sheep under Canadian conditions of management would appear to be 100 mg/kg of body weight. This compound appears to be the best anthelmintic to have been tried to date at this laboratory against the internal parasites of sheep.