Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar-263145, India.
*Division of Parasitology, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar-234 122, India.
Efficacy of praziquantel (@25 mg/kg body weight, orally) and triclabendazole (@ 24 mg/kg body weight, orally) against Schistosoma indicum were evaluated in 18 naturally infected sheep which were divided into 3 groups of six each. The faecal egg counts (FEC) in praziquantel treated sheep were reduced by 90.7, 100 and 85.6 percent on 15, 30 and 60 days post-treatment (DPT), respectively. However, the percent efficacy of triclabendazole against S. indicum in treated sheep was 36.1, 16.6 and 26.6 on 15, 30 and 60 DPT. It was observed that in praziquantel-treated sheep, after an initial drop of egg counts to zero on 30 DPT, the eggs of S. indicum were again present in faeces (FEC=3.3±2.3) on 60 DPT in two sheep. The faecal samples were also screened by egg hatch assay and trends similar to those of faecal egg counts were noted. These results suggest that though praziquantel is highly effective against S. indicum in sheep, but some flukes may resist the action of praziquantel. Also, the efficacy of triclabendazole in treating sheep infected with S. indicum is doubtful.
Efficacy, Praziquantel, Triclabendazole, Schistosoma indicum, Sheep
