Abstract:
Idiosyncrasies are observed in captive wild animals as regards the
pharmacokinetics and efficacy of anthelmintics. This could be attributed
to such factors as differences in host’s metabolism, irregular
distribution of anthelmintics due to the way they are administered and
worm resistance to anthelmintics. Previously mebendazole was found to be
poorly effective when administered in feed. An experiment was conducted
to evaluate the efficacy of mebendazole when administered at the dosage
rate of 15-20 mg/kg body weight to gastrointestinal nematodes in captive
gazelles. Fifty-eight adult gazelles ( Gazella cuvieri) were divided into four
groups: T1 (animals dosed orally, directly into the mouth), T2 (treated
orally, mixed in the water of a herd), T3 (treated orally, mixed in the
water of one animal) and T4 (not treated). Individual faecal samples were
taken before treatment, and 15 days thereafter. Mean percentages of
reduction of egg shedding were calculated for Nematodirus spp., other
trichostrongyles, total trichostrongylids, Trichuris spp. and total
nematodes. No statistically significant differences were detected
between the treatment groups and the control group or among the animals
in the three treatment groups.
