The efficacy of different dose levels of albendazole for reducing faecal worm egg count in naturally infected captive grasscutters, Thryonomys swinderianus, Temminck

E. K. Adu, H. R. Otsyina, A. D. Agyei

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The efficacy of different dose levels of albendazole for reducing faecal worm egg count in naturally infected captive grasscutters was investigated in an in-door trial using twenty weaned grasscutters weighing between 325 g and 925 g at the Animal Research Institute, Achimota, Ghana in a completely randomised block design from 20 September 2004 to 10 November 2004. The drug was administered after impregnation into cane sugar pieces at three dose levels: A (0 mg/kg BW) B (2.5 mg/kg BW, i.e. 1/2 the manufacturer's recommendation) C (5.0 mg/kg BW, i.e. the manufacturer's recommendation) and D (7.5 mg/kg BW, i.e. 11/2 the manufacturer's recommendation) using the recommendation for small ruminants. The efficacy of the drug for reducing the faecal egg count was determined using the percentage faecal egg count reduction (FECR%) technique. The most important finding in this study was that albendazole is efficacious for reducing faecal egg count in captive grasscutters at a dose level of 2.5 mg/kg BW. Though there was no significant difference in the live weight gains of treated animals compared to animals in the control group, growth rates in all treated animals tended to decline. This is speculated to be due to a possible toxicosis of albendazole in the grasscutter. The ease with which the animals accepted the cane sugar pieces when impregnated with albendazole also indicates that the drug can easily be administered with little technical supervision.

Original languageEnglish
JournalLivestock Research for Rural Development
Volume17
Issue number11
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2005
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Albendazole
  • Cane sugar pieces
  • Faecal egg count reduction percentage
  • Grasscutter
  • Thryonomys swinderianus

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