Use Of Albendazole - Levamisole Combination In Controlling Multiple Anthelmintic Resistance In A Sheep Farm In Kabete Kenya

Abstract

The albendazole-levamisole drug combinations were evaluated on their ability to control natural helminth infections in a sheep farm where resistance to the individual anthelmintic had previously been reported. Forty (40) sheep of mixed ages and sex were randomly allocated to four equal groups. The first three groups were treated with albendazole, levamisole and albendazole- levamisole combination respectively while the fourth group remained as the untreated control. Rectal faecal samples were collected from all the animals on the day of treatment (D-0) and fourteen days post-treatment (14 DPT) and the eggs per gram of faeces (EPG) determined. The anthelmintics efficacies were evaluated based on the faecal egg count reduction percentage (FECR %). Resistance to the individual drugs was still evident at FECR % of 38.7% for albendazole and 81.6% for levamisole. Combining the two drugs resulted in a higher efficacy at 98.1% FECR %. The drug combining may therefore offer a temporary solution in helminth control on the farm as other control measures are sort.