Comparison of practical treatment methods to eradicate pinworm (Dentostomella translucida) infections from Mongolian gerbils (Meroines unguiculatus)

This study evaluates the efficacy of various treatment methods to eradicate Dentostomella translucida from Mongolian gerbil colonies. The following fi ve treatment methods were instituted in naturally infected groups of 10 ger bils each: topical ivermectin misting, ivermectin-medicated drinking water, piperazine citrate-medicated drinking water, fenbendazole-medicated feed, and a combination of ivermectin-medicated drinking water and fenbendazole-m edicated feed. Treatment success was assessed by using weekly fecal flotati ons, with necropsy examinations performed on fecal-negative gerbils (except those in the misted group) at 5 weeks after the last treatment. Topical iv ermectin misting left 40% of gerbils fecal-positive. With piperazine citrat e-medicated drinking water, 60% of the gerbils were fecal-positive; the rem aining 40% had adult worms in their digestive tract at necropsy. Ivermectin -medicated drinking water caused 80% of the gerbils to be negative on fecal flotation. On necropsy, however, an but one of these gerbils harbored adul t pinworms. Treatments with fenbendazole-supplemented feed alone or in comb ination with ivermectin-treated water resulted in no fecal shedding or evid ence of adult pinworms on necropsy examination. Of the five treatments eval uated, only those using fenbendazole-medicated feed (150 ppm) provided a pr actical and reliable treatment method to eradicate pinworm infections in Mo ngolian gerbil colonies.