Efficacy of a moxidectin/triclabendazole oral formulation against mixed infections of Fasciola hepatica and gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep

4 páginas, 5 tablas.-- Available online 30 july 2010.We have evaluated the efficacy in sheep of a combination drench formulation at the recommended dose rate of 0.2 mg moxidectin/kg bodyweight and 10 mg triclabendazole/kg bodyweight against an experimental infection with Fasciola hepatica and a natural infection with gastrointestinal nematodes. We confirmed that the efficacy of reducing fecal egg output was 98.3% for trichostrongyle eggs and 100% for F. hepatica eggs. Based on adult worm and fluke recovery, the efficacy varied according to the target species. A reduction was found in the number of Teladorsagia circumcincta, Trichostrongylus spp., Nematodirus spp., and Trichuris spp. greater than 95%, but the efficacy for Oesophagostomum spp. varied, with values below 90%. The reduction in F. hepatica was higher than 95% for all stages. The effectiveness of the formulation was also confirmed by an increase in total proteins and albumin following treatment.This study was supported by a research project of Fort Dodge Animal Health (Spain) (Study number 0987-O-SP-01-06) and by the National Spanish project of the Ministry of Science and Innovation (ref. No. RTA2006-00183-C03-02).Peer reviewe