EFFICACY OF PYRANTEL TARTRATE AGAINST EXPERIMENTAL INFECTIONS WITH HAEMONCHUS-CONTORTUS, TELADORSAGIA-CIRCUMCINCTA AND TRICHOSTRONGYLUS-COLUBRIFORMIS IN GOATS

The efficacy of pyrantel tartrate was evaluated in goats against induced infections with Haemonchus contortus, Teladorsagia circumcincta and Trichostrongylus colubriformis. All the strains were of sheep origin and tested for susceptibility to pyrantel tartrate in sheep at the standard dose rate (20 mg kg(-1)) prior to the infection of goats. Fifteen French Alpine female goats were inoculated with the three nematode species. On Day 25 post-infection, goats were randomized into an untreated control group and two pyrantel treatment groups (20 mg kg(-1) bodyweight once, and 40 mg kg(-1) bodyweight as two doses 24 h apart). The goats were killed and processed for worm recovery 10 days after treatment. The two dose rates achieved high and similar levels of efficacy ( > 96%) against Haemonchus contortus and Teladorsagia circumcincta. Against Trichostrongylus colubriformis, however, pyrantel tartrate was less effective at both dose rates as worm reductions ranged from 55 to 62%.