DATA ON THE APPLICABILITY OF ALBENDAZOLE IN DOMESTIC-FOWL .2. TARGET ANIMAL-TOLERANCE STUDIES

Albendazole (ABZ), similarly to the other benzimidazoles, is less toxi c in mammalians. Sensitivity of chickens against the effective agent w as studied during a target animal-toxicological study. Four groups of 10 seven weeks old broiler cocks each were treated via an oral probe o nce with a 20% suspension of ABZ. The doses used in the groups were 10 , 30 and 50 mg/kg of body-mass, the fourth group served as an untreate d control. Blood samples were collected before treatment and 6, 24, 48 and 72 hours after treatment to determine the clinicopathological par ameters (haemoglobin content, packed cell volume, prothrombin clotting time, aspartate-aminotransferase, lactic acid-dehydrogenase and alkal ic phosphatase activities, calcium, inorganic phosphate, sodium, potas sium, chloride, creatinine, glucose, total protein, albumin and globul in concentrations, Figs 1 to 5). Clinical symptoms did not develop due to the treatment. Significant changes caused by the treatment were ne ither found in any of the clinicochemical parameters. Even the five ti mes higher than the proposed therapeutical dose (10 mg/kg of body-mass ) proved to be innocuous in chickens.