Effect of the antiparasitic drugs fenbendazole and ivermectin on the soil nematode Pristionchus maupasi

• Published in: Veterinary parasitology Vol. 124; no. 1; pp. 91 - 99
• Main Authors: Grønvold, Jørn, Svendsen, Tina Stendal, Kraglund, Hans-Ole, Bresciani, José, Monrad, Jesper
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 20.09.2004
• Subjects: acute toxicity; Animals; Antinematodal Agents - pharmacology; Antinematodal Agents - therapeutic use; Cattle; Cattle Diseases - drug therapy; cattle feces; chemical concentration; dose response; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drugs; Ecotoxic effect; ecotoxicology; excretion; Feces - parasitology; Fenbendazole; Fenbendazole - pharmacology; Fenbendazole - therapeutic use; Ivermectin; Ivermectin - pharmacology; Ivermectin - therapeutic use; Nematoda; Nematoda - drug effects; Nematoda - growth & development; Nematode Infections - drug therapy; Nematode Infections - veterinary; Parasite Egg Count - veterinary; population dynamics; Pristionchus maupasi; Soil nematode; soil nematodes; Treatment Outcome; Drugs; Fenbendazole; Soil nematode; Ecotoxic effect; Pristionchus maupasi; Nematoda; Ivermectin
• ISSN: 0304-4017; 1873-2550
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2004.06.003

Pristionchus maupasi, a soil nematode, was used to elucidate the potential ecotoxic effect of the two anthelmintics fenbendazole and ivermectin in cattle dung. The population growth of P. maupasi was greater in faeces from cattle harbouring active Panacur- or Ivomec-boli, which are releasing fenbendazole and ivermectin to the rumen, respectively, compared to the growth in control faeces. In dose–response experiments it could be shown that the pure chemical compound of fenbendazole was increasingly nematocidal to P. maupasi in concentrations from 10 to 20 μg/g faeces (ww, i.e. wet weight) and the pure compound of ivermectin was effective above 3 μg/g faeces (ww). The results indicate that neither fenbendazole nor ivermectin have any acute toxic effect on P. maupasi in naturally excreted concentrations of the pure drugs, together with their metabolites in faeces from bolus-treated cattle. Both drugs are excreted in concentrations that are non-toxic to P. maupasi.