The effects of a controlled-release albendazole capsule (Proftril-Captec) on parasitism in grazing Corriedale ewes in the Nyandarua district of Kenya

Comparative anthelmintic activity of strategic sustained low-level administration of albendazole in feed pellets compared to single doses of closantel and tetramisole against natural ovine parasitic gastroenteritis

The strategic use of single therapeutic doses of closantel, tetramisole or sustained low-level administration of albendazole in feed pellets in controlling naturally acquired parasitic gastroenteritis in sheep was investigated on a farm in semi-arid Rajasthan, India. A total of 303 5- to 6-month-old sheep were divided into three groups. Two groups were dosed with single therapeutic doses of closantel and tetramisole and the third group was given a low-level medication with albendazole through feed pellets for 30 days. Faecal egg counts revealed significantly lower counts (p<0.001) in the group treated with closantel compared to the other two groups. The faecal egg counts in the group receiving sustained low-level albendazole rose after withdrawal of the medication but remained significantly lower than those in the group treated with tetramisole up to 7 weeks after treatment (p<0.05). On the other hand, in the group treated with tetramisole, the mean faecal egg count rose from 3 weeks after treatment and remained continuously higher than those in any other group up to 12 weeks after treatment. The closantel-treated group gained more body weight but the first six-monthly greasy fleece yield was greater in the group treated with medicated pellets. During the first 3 months of the experiment, three animals in the group treated with tetramisole died of parasitic gastroenteritis. Following sustained low-level administration of albendazole in feed pellets, the plasma disposition curve of both the sulphoxide and sulphone metabolites reached its plateau level by day 5 and remained almost constant thereafter. The comparative cost-effectiveness of the three treatment regimes during the first 3 months of treatment was best for the group treated with closantel followed by the group treated with medicated feed pellets.

The pharmacokinetics and efficacy of long-term low-level and split-dose administration of albendazole through in-feed formulations against ovine and caprine parasitic gastroenteritis

Two trials were conducted against natural and experimentally induced parasitic gastroenteritis in sheep and goats using an in-feed formulation of albendazole to evaluate its therapeutic and prophylactic efficacy. In the first trial, albendazole was incorporated in feed pellets to deliver an average daily dose of 0.7 mg/kg body weight in order to evaluate its prophylactic efficacy. In the second trial, feed pellets were offered to deliver an average total dose of 8.0 mg/kg body weight in two equal split doses in order to evaluate its curative efficacy. Sustained plasma concentrations of the active compound, albendazole sulphoxide, and its metabolite albendazole sulphone, sufficient to prevent establishment of infection, were achieved when the animals were allowed to feed on medicated pellets for 10 consecutive days. The bioavailability of the metabolites of albendazole following the administration of a therapeutic dose in two split doses of the in-feed formulation was sufficient to remove established adult nematodes. The concentrate feed pellets could be used for self-medicating small ruminants for therapeutic use as well as for prophylaxis based on their strategic use appropriate to the epidemiology of the parasitic disease.

Effect of single and divided dose administration on the pharmacokinetics of albendazole in sheep and goat

The pharmacokinetics of albendazole were studied in sheep and goats following single and divided dose administration at nematocidal and flukicidal dose rates. The disposition curves of the metabolites indicated increased uptake of the drug both in sheep and goats at divided dose schedules compared to single dose administration (P < 0.05). The increased bioavailability of benzimidazole anthelmintics in divided dose schedules could improve their efficacy and help in extending their lives.