Describe why extremely large burdens of ascarids should be treated in a cautious manner.
Ascarids are large worms and incredibly high numbers can be found infesting a single animal’s intestines. If an anthelmintic is chosen that has high efficacy against the ascarid in question, mass ascarid die-offs can cause verminous impactions in the gut.
Select the drug that is most suitable for treating tapeworm infestations.
-Naphthalophos
-Ivermectin
-Praziquantel
-Monepantel
-Closantel
-Pyrantel
-Praziquantel
Goat antiparasitic considerations
Goats typically metabolise the antiparasitics faster than sheep and nearly always require a higher dose
How are antiparasitics classified?
They are S5s (“Caution”) and S6s (“Poison”)
*can get lots of them over the counter
*side step veterinary input
Praziquantel MOA
*MOA: Not fully understood
– Ca2+ influx into cestode
– Ca2+ release from intracellular stores
–neuromuscular toxicity paralysis
Very wide margin of safety
Praziquantel clinical indications
Gold standard activity against cestodes
*In many preparations to broaden spectrum to include cestodes
*some activity against trematodes, very poor against nematodes
What is the gold standard for treatment of cestodes?
Praziquantel
Closantel MOA
Antitrematodals
Complex MOA causes spastic paralysis!
Closantel clinical indications
When thinking liver fluke & Barber’s pole worm (Haemonchus contortus), think Closantel
*good activity against trematodes (flukes)
*some activity against nematodes
*good to not so good (resistance) against Haemonchus contortus
Pharmokinetics closantel
Good oral bioavailability
-can systemically absorb and distribute to where the worms are
Extensive protein binding + long elimination half life
* 1 month DOA
What stage of liver fluke does closantel work best aginst?
Works best against late immature stage
Benzimidazoles “white drenches” MOA
Binds to B-tubulin, inhibiting microtubule formation disrupting cell division and maintenance of cell shape etc
-wide safety margin
Fenbendazole
Broad spectrum” anthelmintic (only one)
*Adult nematodes
*Trematodes (weak, except triclabendazole)
*Cestodes (weak)
When can fenbendazole be used for small animals?
giardia
What drug targets the early immature stage of liver flukes?
Triclabendazole
Febantel
pyrantel & praziquantel “drontal”
-anticestodals
Levamisole MOA
Agonist at the worm’s nicotinic ACh receptors –>sustained muscle contraction –> spastic paralysis
Potential for host toxicity – narrow safety margin (2-6x)
Levamisole “the clear drench” clinical indications
Nematodes only
Water soluble, in water medication–> can be used for mass medication
Tetrahydropyrimidines MOA
“pyrantel & oxantel”
Spastic paralysis in nematodes
-drugs that are closely related to levamisole (the “clear” drench)
Tetrahydropyrimidines clinical indications
Small animal nematode infections
Monepantel (“Zolvix”)
Par of the drug class: Amino-acetonitrile derivatives (AADs)
-new drug class
-should be combined with other drenches (to reduce anthelmintic resistance)
Derquantel + Abamectin (“Startect”) MOA
Derquantel + Abamectin (“Startect”) clinical indications
*Excellent efficacy (>95%) against Haemonchus contortus, Trichostrongylus and Nematodirus
*Limited efficacy (<95%) against Teladorsagia (Ostertagia)
–the abamectin may not completely help with this
Melarsomine MOA
*Arsenic based product with unknown MOA
*Low safety margin
*Complicated treatment protocols