Efficacy of Oxfendazole against Gastrointestinal Nematodes in Cattle and Buffaloes: A Clinical Study

In tropical and subtropical countries, the husbandry practices and the environment is ideal for parasite infestation and subsequent reduced productivity in cattle. The most important parasites are liver flukes, schistosomes, amphistomes, cestodes and GI tract nematodes. Oxfendazole is the sulphoxide metabolite of fenbendazole and responsible for that efficacy spectrum of fenbendazole. Oxfendazole reaches peak blood levels more slowly, thereby maintaining effective concentrations for a longer time, which increases the efficacy against immature and inhibited larvae. In the present study safety and efficacy of oxfendazole marketed by Indian Immunologicals Limited was studied in cattle and buffaloes. The efficacy was determined by measuring the Egg per gram (EPG) count in treated and control animals at different time intervals after administration of oxfendazole.No adverse events were observed in the animals. Oxfendazole was foundefficacious in reducing EPG by above 90% by 7th day. The antiparasitic effect increased and continued till 21st day indicating its efficacy in controlling the parasitic infestation.