Evaluation of mebendazole used concurrently with piperazine monohydrochloride in horses.

This research studied the effectiveness of the combined treatment of mebendazole with piperazine monohydrochloride on horses infected with benzimidazole-resistant small strongyles. The study concluded that using the combination led to a significant reduction in strongyle egg count, with no adverse reactions noticed.

Research Set-up

• The researchers conducted a study on forty horses from a herd that was known to be infected with small strongyles that are resistant to benzimidazole.
• The chosen horses were treated with either mebendazole on its own, or in combination with piperazine monohydrochloride. Three dosage variations of piperazine were used: 25 mg/kg, 40 mg/kg, and 55 mg/kg.
• Pre-treatment, the horses underwent fecal examinations and the researchers also performed fecal cultures, strongyle egg per gram (epg) counts, and in vitro testing for benzimidazole resistance.

Investigation and Results

• Before the treatments, the horses had similar results in fecal examinations, and the in vitro testing was positive for benzimidazole resistance, confirming the initial condition of the animals.
• After the treatments, the horses were tested again, this time after 7 days. Those horses which had been treated with the combination of mebendazole and piperazine (irrespective of the dosage) had significantly lower strongyle epg counts (2 to 4), and a greater percentage reduction in geometric mean strongyle epg counts (99.7 to 99.9).
• On the contrast, the horses which had been treated only with mebendazole showed less remarkable change in measurements.
• It’s important to highlight that adverse reactions to the combined treatment were not observed among any of the horses during the study.

Conclusion

• The research indicates that the simultaneous use of mebendazole and piperazine monohydrochloride is significantly more effective in combating benzimidazole-resistant small strongyles in horses than treatment with mebendazole alone.
• The combination was effective in all dosages that were tested (25 mg/kg, 40 mg/kg, and 55 mg/kg) and it did not cause any adverse reactions in the horses. Therefore, this combination may be a safe and more effective treatment option for horses suffering from this type of infection.