|
|||||
|
|
A field study on the anthelmintic resistance of Parascaris spp. in Arab foals in the Riyadh region,Saudi Arabia |
|
| Authors: | Abdullah D. Alanazi Rami M. Mukbel Mohamed S. Alyousif Zafer S. AlShehri Ibrahim O. Alanazi Hamdan I. Al-Mohammed |
| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Science and Humanities, Shaqra University, Ad-Dawadimi, Saudi Arabia;2. Department of Basic Veterinary Medical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan;3. Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia;4. The National Centre for Genomic Technology, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia;5. Department of Microbiology and Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, King Faisal University, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia |
| Abstract: | Background: In the last decade, Parascaris spp. resistance to anthelmintics has been recorded in many countries. In Saudi Arabia, there are limited data available on Parascaris spp. resistance to anthelmintics. Objective: To determine the current status of ivermectin, abamectin and praziquantel combined, and fenbendazole resistance to Parascaris spp. in horses in Saudi Arabia. Methods: Three hundred and forty-one foals from eleven different farms were examined by faecal egg count (FEC). The foals were all Arab horses aged 17.2 ± 4.5 (SD) months. Ivermectin (n = 46 foals), abamectin and praziquantel combined (n = 46), and fenbendazole (n = 46) were administered on day 0 and faeces were collected on day 14. The study comprised 41 untreated foals as controls. Animals that have FEC of ≥100 eggs per gram (EPG) were used to measure anthelmintic efficacy. Parascaris spp. populations were considered susceptible when faecal egg count reduction (FECR) was ≥95% associated with a lower 95% confidence limit (LCL) >90%, suspected resistant when FECR ≤90% or LCL <90% and resistant when FECR <90% and LCL <90%. Results: Prevalence of Parascaris spp. infection was 53% (179/341 horses). Anthelmintic resistance to Parascaris spp. were highest following fenbendazole (55% of farms and 65% of foals) and to a lower extent following ivermectin or the combination of abamectin and praziquantel which comprised 27% of farms (and 46% of foals) and 18% of farms (and 10% of foals), respectively. Conclusion: These data indicate that anthelmintics-resistant Parascaris spp. populations are present on horse farms in Saudi Arabia. |
| Keywords: | Equine foal Parascaris spp. anthelmintic resistance ivermectin Saudi Arabia |