A multicenter evaluation of the effectiveness of Quest Gel (2% moxidectin) against parasites infecting equids.
Abstract: Controlled trials with a common protocol were conducted in Idaho, Illinois and Tennessee to evaluate anthelmintic effectiveness of Quest Gel (QG; 2% moxidectin) against lumenal parasites in horses. Candidate horses were required to have naturally acquired nematode infections, as confirmed by presence of strongylid eggs in feces. At each site, 24 equids were blocked on the basis of pretreatment strongyle fecal egg counts (EPG) and randomly assigned to treatments within blocks. Within each block of two animals, one received QG on Day 0 at a dosage of 0.4 mg moxidectin/kg b.w. and one was an untreated control. Body weights measured the day before treatment served as the basis for calculating treatment doses. Horses assigned to treatment with QG received the prescribed dose administered orally with the commercially packaged Sure Dial syringe. Horses were necropsied 12-14 days after treatment, and lumenal parasites and digesta were harvested separately from each of five organs, including the stomach, small intestine, cecum, ventral colon and dorsal colon. Parasites from stomachs and small intestines were identified to genus, species and stage. Micro- (i.e., < 1.5 cm) and macroparasites (i.e., > 1.5 cm) in aliquots from the cecum, ventral colon and dorsal colon were examined in aliquots of approximately 200 parasites until at least 600 parasites had been identified to genus, species and stage or until all parasites in the 5% aliquot were examined, whichever occurred first. Data were combined across sites and analyzed by mixed model analysis of variance to assess the fixed effect of treatment and random effects of site and block within site. Because QG does not contain a cestocide, efficacy of QG against tapeworms was not significant (P > 0.05). Based on geometric means, however, efficacy of QG was greater than 90% (P < 0.05) against 38 species and developmental stages of cyathostomes, strongyles, bots, larval pinworms and ascarids encountered in at least 6 of 36 control horses in the combined data set. None of the horses treated with moxidectin exhibited evidence of adverse effects. Study results demonstrate QG, administered to horses with naturally acquired endoparasite infections at a dosage of 0.4 mg moxidectin/kg b.w., was highly effective against a broad range of equine parasitic infections.
Publication Date: 2006-01-18 PubMed ID: 16414194DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2005.11.029Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Evaluation Study
- Journal Article
- Multicenter Study
Summary
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The study examines the effectiveness of the anthelmintic (parasite-removing) drug Quest Gel, containing 2% moxidectin, against naturally occurring internal parasites in equines (horses) across multiple US centers.
Study Procedure and Setting
- The controlled studies followed a shared protocol across Idaho, Illinois, and Tennessee. Only horses with natural nematode infections, confirmed by detecting strongylid eggs in their feces, were considered for the test.
- At each site, 24 horses were selected and grouped based on pretreatment strongyle fecal egg counts and assigned treatments randomly within these groups. Within each set of two horses, one received Quest Gel, and one served as an untreated control.
- The active ingredient in Quest Gel, moxidectin, was administered at the rate of 0.4 mg per kilogram of body weight, calculated based on the measurements taken a day before the treatment. The gel was administered orally using a commercially available Sure Dial syringe.
- After 12-14 days post treatment, the horses were euthanized, and internal parasites present in the digestive system were examined. Different organs like the stomach, small intestine, cecum, ventral and dorsal colon were studied separately.
Measurement and Analysis
- The parasites obtained were specifically identified up to their genus, species, and stage of development. Micro and macro parasites from the cecum, ventral colon, and dorsal colon were studied in groups of around 200 until at least 600 had been identified or until all parasites in a 5% sample had been examined.
- Study data over all the sites were combined and analyzed using a mixed model analysis of variance. This method calculated the fixed effect of the treatment and the random impact of the location and the block within each site.
- As Quest Gel does not contain a cestocide, (a drug that specifically kills cestodes or tapeworms), its efficacy against tapeworms was not noteworthy.
Study Results and Conclusion
- Based on geometric mean values, the efficacy of Quest Gel was shown to be greater than 90% against 38 species and developmental stages of various parasites found in at least 6 of 36 control horses in the combined data set.
- The study showed no evidence of adverse effects in the horses treated with moxidectin.
- It was concluded from the research that Quest Gel, administered at a dosage of 0.4 mg moxidectin/kg body weight to horses with natural internal parasite infections, was highly effective against a broad range of parasites.
Cite This Article
APA
Cleale RM, Edmonds JD, Paul AJ, Reinemeyer CR, Chapman MR, Clem R, Meccoli RA, Tolliver SC, Amodie DM.
(2006).
A multicenter evaluation of the effectiveness of Quest Gel (2% moxidectin) against parasites infecting equids.
Vet Parasitol, 137(1-2), 119-129.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2005.11.029 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Fort Dodge Animal Health, P.O. Box 5366, Princeton, NJ 08543, USA. clealer@pt.fdah.com
MeSH Terms
- Analysis of Variance
- Animals
- Anthelmintics / therapeutic use
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Feces / parasitology
- Female
- Helminthiasis, Animal / drug therapy
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horses
- Macrolides / therapeutic use
- Male
- Organ Specificity
- Parasite Egg Count / veterinary
- Random Allocation
- Treatment Outcome
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Lyons ET, Tolliver SC, Kuzmina TA, Collins SS. Critical tests evaluating efficacy of moxidectin against small strongyles in horses from a herd for which reduced activity had been found in field tests in Central Kentucky. Parasitol Res 2010 Nov;107(6):1495-8.
- Cobb R, Boeckh A. Moxidectin: a review of chemistry, pharmacokinetics and use in horses. Parasit Vectors 2009 Sep 25;2 Suppl 2(Suppl 2):S5.
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