EFFICACY OF BITHIONOL SULFOXIDE, NICLOSAMIDE AND FENBENDAZOLE AGAINSTNATURAL RUMEN FLUKE INFECTION IN CATTLE

Forty-eight cattle naturally infected with lumen flukes were used to a ssess the efficacy of three anthelmintics against rumen flukes. The in fected animals were divided into 4 groups: group 1 consisting of 18 an imals, group 2 of 18 and group 3 of 6 were treated with bithionol sulf oxide at a dose of 90 mg/kg, niclosamide at 90 mg/kg and fenbendazole at 7.5 mg/kg, respectively. Group 4 composed of 6 cattle was the untre ated positive control. Faecal samples were collected at one week inter val for 9 weeks after drug administration. Faecal examination was perf ormed by the beads technique for eggs output per gram (EPG). Efficacy of each anthelmintic against lumen fluke infection was assessed by the rate of egg reduction. The results showed that bithionol sulfoxide is the most effective against natural lumen fluke infections.