The effect of different doses of Closantel suspension on sheep gastrointestinal nematodes

Objectives: The present study was conducted on naturally infected sheep to evaluate the effect of different oral doses of Closantel 5% suspension on gastrointestinal nematodes population.Materials and methods: Fecal samples were taken from 28 head sheep and the number of eggs per gram of feces (EPG) was determined using saturated salt solution and saturated zinc sulfate solution, respectively. Then animals were separated in 4 groups [control, treatment 1 (1 ml/5kgBW), treatment 2 (1.5 ml/5kgBW) and treatment 3 (2 ml/5kgBW)] and fecal samples were taken at 12, 24 and 36 hours and also at 7 and 14 days of post treatment.Results Conclusion: Results showed that three different doses of Closantel 5% significantly reduce the number of nematode EPG at 12, 24 and 36 hours and also at 7 and 14 days after the beginning of treatment (P 0.05). In treatment 1, 2 and 3, a decrease of 17, 68.48,86.2,96.3 and 99.01%;36.54,80.32,96.95,98.6 and 99.53% and 44.6,88.38,97.88,99.36 and 98.94% in EPG were observed at all time of sampling, respectively. Statistical analysis confirmed the difference between all treated groups and the control ones, either.Final Conclusion: Gastrointestinal parasite infections in sheep are responsible for severe clinical syndromes and profound production losses. It must be noted that GI nematode populations resistant to anthelmintic drugs have developed following intensive control regimens, but our obtained resultsindicated that GI nematodes are still sensitive to Closantel 5% suspension and there is no drug resistant. It was also showed that oral administration of Closantel in 1.5 or twice doses were not associated with side effects