A Study on the in Vitro Survival of Oesophagostomum Columbianum in two different Anthelmintics

The anthelmintics used for the present study were ivermectin and morantel. The parasites Oesophagostomum columbianum were collected from the small intestine of sheep slaughtered freshly in local abbatoir. The recovered parasites were washed with tap water and then with distilled water thoroughly. After washing the parasites were kept in three different petridishes containing control solution and solution containing ivermectin and morantel respectively. Observations were recorded after intervals of every four hours. It was observed that there was a decrease in survival of worm after exposure with anthelmintics. The worm Oesophagostomum columbianum survived for maximum period of 12 and 8 hours in lock-lewis solutions containing ivermectin and morantel respectively whereas their maximum survival in lock-lewis solution was 36 hours. The cent-percent survival was found up to 20 hours but it was reduced after exposure with antiparasitic drugs. The present study could be used to understand the effect of various drugs on the above parasites and other intestinal parasites in vivo.