Observations on thiabendazole as an equine anthelmintic.

The research paper discusses the successful use of thiabendazole as an anthelmintic medication for horses, proving its effectiveness in eliminating strongyle worms without causing harmful side effects.

Research Context

• The study was conducted to assess the efficiency and safety of thiabendazole, which is an anthelmintic drug used to treat worm infections.
• The focus of the research was primarily on horses dealing with strongyle worm infestations.
• Strongyles are a common type of parasites in horses which can cause several health issues if not treated properly.

Research Methodology

• The researchers began the study by dosing the horses with thiabendazole at two different levels – 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of body weight.
• They observed that there were no signs of intoxication or harmful side effects at either dosage which indicated that thiabendazole is safe to use at these levels.
• A group of 17 horses with a mean egg count of 1,296 eggs per gram (e.p.g.) were dosed with 100 mg/kg of thiabendazole to analyse the effects of the drug on high-intensity infestations.
• The researchers measured the strongyle eggs count before and after the treatment to check the effectiveness of the medication.

Research Outcomes

• Seven days after the treatment, all tested horses tested negative for strongyle eggs indicating a substantial reduction in the infestation.
• Three of the treated horses were euthanized for further investigation. They were found free or with minimal strongyle worms in their system.
• For comparison, an untreated control horse was also euthanized at the same time. This horse was found to be infested with thousands of strongyle worms.
• The results confirmed that thiabendazole was effective in eliminating strongyle worms in the horses.

Administration Methods

• The medication was also tested for effectiveness when administered in two ways, through a stomach tube and mixed in with the feed.
• In both scenarios, thiabendazole managed to effectively combat the worm infestation which shows that it is a versatile medication that can be easily administered.