DOI: 10.36347/sjavs.2017.v04i12.002

Pages: 522-526

An 8 week study was undertaken to determine the therapeutic efficacy of copper oxide wire particles (COWP, Copinox®, Animax Ltd, UK) against mixed gastrointestinal nematodes of naturally infested indigenous goats in a semi-arid area of eastern Kenya. Forty five small East African goats, of mixed sexes and an average age of 7 months were randomly assigned into 3 groups of 15 animals based on fecal egg counts (FEC). Group I goats were given orally a 2 g COWP capsule each, group II received a 2 g COWP capsule and Curazole® (Fenbendazole) at a dose rate of 5 mgkg-1 body weight and group III (control) were left untreated. Parameters measured included, weekly FEC, fecal cultures and worm counts on study termination (day 56). There was a significant (p < 0.05) drop of FEC for group I (COWP) relative to group III from day 0 up to day 28 post-treatment. Group II (COWP + Curazole®) FEC remained consistently lower (p < 0.05) than those of group I from day 7 up to day 35 post-treatment. Percent FEC reduction from day 7 to 35 for COWP group was: days 7 (85.3%); 14 (93.4%), 21 (81%), 28 (58%) and 35 (30%) relative to COWP plus CUZ group which were: days 7 to 21 (100%), day 28 (87.8%) and day 35 (73.9%), respectively. From day 42 to 56, FEC were not significantly different (p > 0.05) between the 3 experimental groups. Fecal cultures showed that COWP was only effective against Haemonchus spp. with nil efficacies against Trichostrongylus spp. and Oesophagostomum spp. infestations. Curazole® was effective against all the three strongylid species. On necropsy, mean worm count of H. contortus were reduced in group I by 58.8% (mean = 680) and in group II by 68.1% (mean = 526) compared to the control group (mean 1650 (p < 0.05)). Results demonstrated that administration of COWP had a significant anthelmintic effect on pre-existing H. contortus infestation and represent an alternative to conventional anthelmintics in control of this worm especially where anthelmintic resistance is widespr