Efficacy of moxidectin 2% equine gel against natural nematode infections in ponies.

This study tests the effectiveness of the moxidectin 2% oral gel, a drug used to treat worm infections, on young ponies naturally affected by such infections. The results demonstrate high efficacy, reducing the severity of the infections by around 99.8% to 100%.

Introduction and Methodology

• The research set out to investigate the efficacy of a drug named moxidectin 2% oral gel (Equest, Fort-Dodge) in treating worm strains in young ponies.
• The 12 ponies involved in the study had naturally occurring infections and were divided into two groups: one group received the treatment, while the other was given a placebo and served as a control group.
• Assessment of the drug effectiveness was executed through post-mortem worm counts and fecal egg counts (FECs) after the treatment.
• All animals were necropsied, i.e. post-mortem examinations were conducted, 14 days post-treatment.

Results

• The treatment was highly effective. By the third day after treatment, up to 14 days afterwards, the FECs in the treatment group reduced by 99.8% to 100%.
• Specifically, the moxidectin showed effectiveness across different kinds of worms and larval stages. Its efficacy was 100% against Trichostrongylus axei and Triodontophorus spp., > 99.9% against Cyathostomes adults and L5 larvae, and 99% against O. equi L4 larvae.
• It was slightly less effective but still considerably substantial against S. edentatus L5 larvae and G. intestinalis, with 92% effectiveness.
• None of the treated animals were found to have P. equorum, Habronema spp., G. pecorum, nor G. nasalis – parasites that the control group was slightly infected with ahead of the experiment.

Conclusion

• The findings of this study confirm previous work carried out in the United States and Europe that pointed to moxidectin as a highly effective drug against worm infections.
• Additionally, the study showed that moxidectin is safe to use in young ponies.