Control of endoparasites in horses with a gel containing moxidectin and praziquantel.

The research article focuses on the effectiveness of a gel containing moxidectin and praziquantel in controlling endoparasites in horses. It shows that this formulation significantly reduced the mean faecal strongyle egg count and maintained this low level for at least 12 weeks, even when the horses were continuously exposed to reinfection.

Research Objective and Methodology

• This research aimed to test the effectiveness of a gel containing moxidectin and praziquantel in controlling endoparasites in horses, particularly strongyle eggs.
• The geometric mean faecal strongyle egg count was observed before and after the treatment. The researchers kept these horses in a pasture grazed by both treated and untreated horses, exposing them to continuous reinfection.
• The performance of the gel was compared to a proprietary paste containing abamectin and praziquantel, which is commonly used for this purpose. The egg count was observed for 12 weeks after using these treatments.
• A non-invasive modified critical trial was also conducted to test the effectiveness of both products in eliminating tapeworms from horses.

Research Findings

• The research revealed that the gel formulation significantly reduced the egg count in faeces to below 100 eggs per gram for at least 12 weeks, showing a high efficacy in controlling the parasites.
• Forms containing abamectin and praziquantel, on the other hand, only managed to contain the egg count until six weeks after treatment. After this period, the egg count increased steadily, reaching over 820 eggs per gram at the end of the 12 weeks.
• In terms of efficacy, compared with the pretreatment counts, the reduction in the mean faecal egg count was significantly better in the horses treated with the gel containing moxidectin and praziquantel from eight weeks after the treatment.
• The study also found that both the gel formulation and the proprietary paste successfully eliminated tapeworms from horses.

Implications of the Research

• The findings imply that the gel formulation has a longer-lasting impact than the proprietary paste in controlling strongyle eggs in horses.
• The study suggests that the gel formulation containing moxidectin and praziquantel could provide an efficient approach to control endoparasites in horses, even when they are continuously exposed to reinfection.
• However, further research may be needed to get a clear understanding of the potential side effects, the optimal dosage, and other factors that may affect the efficacy of the gel formulation.