EFFICACY OF INTRARUMINAL ALBENDAZOLE CAPS ULES AGAINST GASTROINTESTINAL NEMATODES AND TREMATODES DICROCOELIUM-DENDRITICUM IN SHEEP

The efficacy of intraruminal albendazole (ABZ) capsules (Proftril-Capt ec) and the effect of treatment on productivity parameters were studie d in two experiments totally on 466 ewes naturally infected with gastr ointestinal nematodes and trematodes D. dendriticum. Ovoscopical tests revealed that treated animals remained negative during 10 - 12 weeks after the administration of capsules and that pasture contamination wi th helminths was significantly reduced. Necropsy revealed 96.9 - 99.2% efficacy against nematodes Nematodirus spp., Oesophagostomum spp., Co operia spp., Trichostrongylus spp. and Trichuris ovis. Priority findin g is the, efficacy of ABZ capsules against trematodes D. dendriticum w hich was in the first experiment 88.5% and in the second experiment 91 .8%. During the 6-month pasture season treated ewes produced on averag e 2.56 kg cheese and 0.6 kg wool per ewe more than untreated controls.