Deworming schemes' efficacy for adult dogs with mixed gastro-intestinal helminthoses

Abstract

Mixed gastrointestinal helminthoses, which combines Toxocara canis, Trichuris (T.) vulpis, Toxascaris leonina, Uncinaria stenocephala, Ancylostoma caninum, and Dipylidium caninum in various combinations, are very common pets’ problems worldwide. It is unlikely necessary to choose between 100 % efficiency and for the patient’s body to heal the infected animals safely. The present work aims to develop an affordable scheme for adult dogs’ deworming, which will create a minimum load on the body due to the low drugs’ toxicity. Mixed breed dogs, 1—5 years old, representing both sexes, spontaneously infected with T. vulpis (100 % prevalence) in combination with other gastrointestinal helminths (from 12.7 to 45.1 %) were selected for study. Regimens combining Caniquantel® Plus (fenbendazole + praziquantel) and fenbendazole with a 24-hour interval were tested. After a single treatment of experimental animals with Caniquantel® Plus, no helminth eggs were detected in their faeces after three days, except for T. vulpis. Seven days after the start of the experiment, the intensity of infection of this nematode decreased by only 22.0 % (P < 0.001). Bodies and fragments of dead helminths were found in faeces 1—4 days after deworming, with T. vulpis isolated only in 2 days in small quantities (4.54 ± 0.21 specimens per 100 g of faeces). Two-stage deworming with Caniquantel® Plus and fenbendazole after 24 hours resulted in 100 % efficiency against eggs of all parasites after five days. Helminths’ bodies stopped excreting after four days, and T. vulpis was detected within three days in substantive quantities (from 10.03 ± 0.45 to 36.8 ± 1.2 specimens per 100 g of faeces).