Observations on development of Strongyloides westeri in foals nursing dams treated with cambendazole or thiabendazole.
Abstract: In 1 experiment, a prepatent period of 8 or 9 days was recorded for Strongyloides westeri in 4 pony foals raised worm-free but infected with parasitic 3rd stage larvae in the postpartum milk of a mare via gastric intubation. This is about 2 to 6 days less than the usual age that eggs of S westeri appear in the feces of naturally infected suckling foals, in central Kentucky.
In other studies, mares were treated with cambendazole or thiabendazole at 0 to 2 days after parturition and continued for 7 to 16 days. Appearance of S westeri eggs in feces of foals nursing treated mares was prevented by cambendazole but not by thiabendazole during the medication period and for a minimum of 7 days after treatment. Effectiveness of feeding cambendazole as a pellet formulation was evident in foals of 2 of 3 mares treated at the dose rate of 10 mg/kg of body weight and in the foal of 1 mare treated at the dose rate of 20 mg/kg. Efficacy of intraoral administration of cambendazole as a paste formulation was not evident in foals of 3 mares treated at the dose rate of 5, 10, or 15 mg/kg, respectively, but was evident in foals of mares treated with larger doses (foal of 1 of 3 mares given 20 mg/kg; foal of 1 of 5 mares given 25 mg/kg; foals of 8 of 9 mares given 30 mg/kg). Beneficial effect of intraoral administration of thiabendazole as a paste formulation was not evident in foals of 5 treated mares (foals of 4 mares given 44 mg/kg of body weight; foal of 1 mare given 88 mg/kg). Activity of cambendazole was probably effected against parasitic 3rd stage larvae in the mammary tissue or milk of the mare, but an inhibitory effect on the development stages of S westeri in foals is also a possibility.
Publication Date: 1977-06-01 PubMed ID: 879586
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research studied the development of the parasite, Strongyloides westeri, in young horses or foals, particularly looking at the effects of cambendazole and thiabendazole treatment in mares on the development of the parasite in their offspring. The findings suggest that cambendazole may be more effective than thiabendazole in preventing the emergence of S. westeri in foals.
Strongyloides westeri Development
- The experiment recorded a prepatent period, which is the time from infection to when the parasites can be detected, of 8 or 9 days in four pony foals infected with the parasitic 3rd stage larvae through the postpartum milk of a mare.
- This is notably quicker than the commonly observed time it takes for eggs of S westeri to appear in naturally infected suckling foals’ feces in central Kentucky, which is usually 2 to 6 days longer.
Treatment with Cambendazole or Thiabendazole
- The scientists conducted additional studies where mares were treated with either cambendazole or thiabendazole within 2 days of giving birth and continued this treatment for a period of between 7 to 16 days.
- The objective was to observe if the appearance of S westeri eggs in the foals’ feces would be influenced by whether their mothers were treated with cambendazole or thiabendazole.
Results of the Treatment
- Cambendazole, but not thiabendazole, was found to prevent the appearance of S westeri in the foals’ feces during the treatment period and for at least a week after treatment ended.
- However, the effectiveness of cambendazole varied depending on the method of administration and dosage, with better results observed in mares administered with larger doses.
- The administration of thiabendazole did not show any evident benefits in the prevention of S westeri development in the foals.
Possible Explanation of the Results
- Based on their observations, the researchers proposed that cambendazole was likely effective against the parasitic 3rd stage larvae located in the mares’ mammary tissue or milk.
- However, they also suggested that cambendazole may just as well have an inhibitory effect on the developmental stages of S westeri in the foals, thus accounting for the decreased incidence of the parasite in treated foals.
Cite This Article
APA
Lyons ET, Drudge JH, Tolliver SC.
(1977).
Observations on development of Strongyloides westeri in foals nursing dams treated with cambendazole or thiabendazole.
Am J Vet Res, 38(6), 889-892.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Benzimidazoles / therapeutic use
- Cambendazole / therapeutic use
- Feces / parasitology
- Female
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horse Diseases / parasitology
- Horses
- Parasite Egg Count
- Strongyloidiasis / drug therapy
- Strongyloidiasis / parasitology
- Strongyloidiasis / veterinary
- Thiabendazole / therapeutic use
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