Summary
This field trial in two Tanzanian districts evaluated the efficacy of five commonly used trematocide drugs against concurrent infections of the liver fluke Fasciola gigantica and amphistomes in cattle. Four trematocides (nitroxynil, oxyclozanide, closantel and triclabendazole) achieved 100% faecal egg count reduction against F. gigantica by day 14, whilst albendazole showed substantially reduced efficacy (49–89% FECR). Oxyclozanide was the only drug effective against amphistomes (99% FECR), highlighting important regional variation in drug resistance and implications for disease control strategies in sub-Saharan African livestock systems.
UK applicability
Whilst Fasciola gigantica does not occur in the United Kingdom, the findings on anthelmintic efficacy and resistance monitoring are relevant to UK livestock health surveillance, particularly for F. hepatica infections in cattle and sheep, where similar resistance concerns have been documented. The methodology and FECR testing protocol may inform UK veterinary diagnostic and treatment evaluation practices.
Key measures
Faecal egg count reduction (FECR) percentage at days 7, 14 and 28 post-treatment; Flukefinder® method for egg recovery and identification
Outcomes reported
The study assessed the efficacy of five different trematocide drugs (albendazole, nitroxynil, oxyclozanide, closantel and triclabendazole) against Fasciola gigantica and amphistome infections in naturally infected cattle using faecal egg count reduction tests over 28 days post-treatment.
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