EFFECT OF MEBENDAZOLE AND IVERMECTIN ON THE SHEDDING OF NEMATODE EGGSBY 3 SPECIES OF GAZELLES (GAZELLA-DAMA-MHORR, GAZELLA-CUVIERI, AND GAZELLA-DORCAS)

Mebendazole and ivermectin were studied for the control of gastrointes tinal helminthiasis in three species of captive gazelles: Gazella dama mhorr, G, cuvieri, and G. dorcas. Ivermectin was given s.c, in a sing le 0.2-mg/kg live-weight dose and mebendazole was given in three dosag es based on species: G. dorcas, 14 mg/kg; G. cuvieri, 6 mg/kg; and G. dama, 3 mg/kg orally twice daily for 3 consecutive days. Each drug was tested in 13 individuals of each species; 13 additional individuals s erved as untreated controls. Helminths detected by fecal examination a nd culture were species of Trichuris, Ostertagia, Cooperia, Trichostro ngylus, Nematodirus, and Strongyloides. The prevalence among the total gazelle population was: Trichuris, 55%; Nematodirus, 26%; and other n ematodes, 84%. After treatment with mebendazole, the nematode egg coun ts and the number of animals shedding eggs decreased moderately. After ivermectin treatments, there were marked decreases in the amount of e ggs being shed and the number of animals shedding eggs of these nemato des.