Anthelmintic efficiency of fenbendazole in equines

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Parasitology
• Equine Health
• Anthelmintic Efficacy

Background:

• Gastrointestinal nematodes pose significant health risks to equids.
• Effective and safe anthelmintic treatments are crucial for equine welfare.
• Fenbendazole is a broad-spectrum benzimidazole anthelmintic used in veterinary medicine.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of fenbendazole (FBZ) against common equine parasites.
• To compare the effectiveness of single oral dose versus medicated lick administration of FBZ.
• To confirm FBZ efficacy in donkeys and extend findings to horses.

Main Methods:

• Donkeys received a single oral dose of fenbendazole (10mg/kg body mass).
• A separate group of donkeys consumed a medicated lick containing 1 mg FBZ/g until reaching a 10mg/kg body mass dose.
• Parasite efficacy was assessed against specific genera and species in donkeys and horses.

Main Results:

• Fenbendazole demonstrated high efficacy against adult Cyathostomum, Cylicocyelus, Cylicostephanus, Cylicodontophorus, Poteriostomum, Cabellonema, Craterostomum, and Triodontophorus in donkeys.
• FBZ was also highly effective against Habronema majus, Habronema musca, Strongylus vulgaris, Oxyuris equi, and Cyathostostominae subfamily members.
• In horses, FBZ at 10mg/kg was highly effective against Gyalocephalus capitatus, Oesophagodontos robustus, and Parascaris equorum.

Conclusions:

• Fenbendazole is a highly effective anthelmintic for treating a wide range of gastrointestinal parasites in donkeys.
• The findings in donkeys were confirmed in horses, indicating broad applicability.
• Both single oral dosing and medicated lick administration methods achieved high efficacy.