Studies on fenbendazole for treating lung and intestinal parasites in horses and donkeys.

The study examines how effective orally ingested fenbendazole, a kind of medication, is in treating lung and intestinal parasites in different kinds of equids—specifically, pony mares, jenny donkeys, and foals. Following a single administration, the medicine effectively removed intestinal parasites but was less effective against lung infections, even when used repeatedly or in greater quantities.

Investigation into Fenbendazole Usage

• In this research, the medicinal drug fenbendazole’s effect on lung and intestinal parasites in equids was scrutinized.
• The subjects of the study were a mixed herd of pony mares, jenny donkeys, and foals.
• Designed as an oral medication, fenbendazole was given to the animals in the herd to evaluate its potential as a treatment for parasitic infections.

Efficacy of Fenbendazole

• Findings noted that a single dose at 7.5 mg fenbendazole per kg of body weight was efficient in removing intestinal parasites from the ponies, donkeys, and foals.
• The results indicate the effectiveness of this medicine in treating intestinal parasites in equids of different ages and species.

Limitations of the Treatment

• However, the study found that despite increasing the dosage or number of administrations, fenbendazole failed to eliminate lungworm infections in donkeys.
• This highlights a limitation in the drug, suggesting that its efficacy may be confined to certain types of parasites and may vary between different species of equids.

Eosinophilia as an Indicator

• Another significant aspect of the study was the use of eosinophilia—an increase in eosinophils, a type of white blood cell—in detecting lungworm infections in donkeys.
• This suggests that eosinophilia can be a reliable detection method for specific parasitic infections in donkeys and potentially other equids, providing a supportive tool in treating parasitic infections in these animals.