Differences in Fecal Egg Count (FEC), Performance, Blood Parameters, and Lactate Dehydrogenase Activity of Stocker Calves Treated with Various Anthelmintics

• Published in: Journal of animal science Vol. 96; pp. 16 - 17
• Main Authors: Hooks, C A, Denney, N R, Hovey, M R, Miller, J F, Papajeski, B M, Robertson, J C, Backes, E A, Porr, C A, Davis, A J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Champaign Oxford University Press 01.03.2018
• Subjects: Anthelmintic agents; Calves; Cattle; Damage assessment; Data processing; Dehydrogenase; Dehydrogenases; Drug resistance; Drugs; Eosinophils; Erythrocytes; L-Lactate dehydrogenase; Lactate dehydrogenase; Lactic acid; Leukocytes; Leukocytes (basophilic); Leukocytes (eosinophilic); Leukocytes (neutrophilic); Lymphocytes; Monocytes; Oxfendazole; Oxidative stress; Parameters; Parasite control; Parasite resistance; Parasites; Platelets; Statistical analysis; Statistical methods
• ISSN: 0021-8812; 1525-3163

Long-acting eprinomectin is the only anthelmintic available to provide long term parasite control but its higher cost discourages use. Co-treatment applications of anthelmintics may be an option for beef producers providing extended coverage at lower cost and may reduce anthelmintic resistance of parasites. However, little information is available on differences between LAE and Co-treatment of steers with regard to FEC, performance, blood parameters, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity which may serve as an indicator of oxidative stress and tissue damage. Thus, objectives of this study were to evaluate effects of anthelmintic administration on FEC, performance, blood parameters, and LDH activity in stockers. Steers were stratified by initial FEC, BW, and BCS then randomly allocated to 1 of 4 treatments: Control (CON; n=10); long-acting eprinomectin (LAE) (n=10); moxidectin/oxfendazole on d 0 (COMBO; n=10), and oxfendazole d 0 and moxidectin d 45 (O+M; n=10). Fecal and blood samples were collected and BW, BCS, and hair coat scores (HCS) recorded on d 0, 31, 63, and 92. Serum LDH activity and complete blood cell count data were determined for: white blood cells (WBC), red blood cells (RBC), platelets (PLA), lymphocytes (LYM), neutrophils (NEU), monocytes (MONO), eosinophils (EOS), and basophils (BASO). Statistical analysis was performed using the MIXED procedure of SAS and included three orthogonal contrasts: 1) CON vs treated steers, 2) LAE vs Co-treated, and 3) COMBO vs O+M. Fecal egg counts and BW was similar between treatment groups (P≥0.24). Body condition score was greater (P<0.01) for O+M steers compared to COMBO on d 92. Day 0 to 31 ADG was greater (P<0.04) for LAE versus Co-treated and O+M versus COMBO. Long-acting eprinomectin steers had greater (P<0.02) ADG on d 63 to 92 compared with Co-treated steers. Overall, ADG was greater (P<0.01) for LAE and O+M steers compared to COMBO. Day 63 HCS differed (P=0.01) between LAE and Co-treated steers. A treatment* day interaction was found for RBC (P<0.01). No differences (P ≥ 0.07) were found between treatments for blood parameters; however, there was an effect (P<0.01) of d on WBC, PLA, LYM, EOS, and BASO. Serum LDH was affected by d (P<0.01) and was greater (P=0.01) in O+M compared with COMBO steers. Data suggest performance may be improved using delayed Co-treatment application and that LDH activity differs in steers treated with anthelmintics.