The comparison results of some anthelmintic programs against Paraphistomum spp and other trematodes in small ruminants

Lowland areas of Saranda are known for their high level of infestation by trematodes. The infestation by Fasciola hepatica in this area goes up to 70% and by Paraphistomum spp up to 40%. The common use of albandazole for over 20 years in various pharmaceutical forms (powders, boluses and drenches), dose not give the desired results in fighting against trematodes nowadays. The purpose of this study is to create the opportunity and open ways of selecting an appropriate scheme for the control of trematodes. Our goal was to find a combination of drugs to enable not only the control of fasciolosis but also the paraphistomiasis. The experiment took place in an extensive sheep flock of area of Saranda during October-November 2009. In the flock of 160 sheep there were created 4 groups of 40 heads. For dehelmintization, in the first group of sheep, was used a combination of Rafoxanide plus Febendazole. In the second group a combination of Oxyclozanide plus Levamisole and in the third group a combination of the preparation of Triclabendazole plus Levamisole was used. The fourth group of sheep was used as a control group, therefore there was no preparation used. To estimate the efficacy of the three schemes of drugs combination, there was used the counting of the eggs of parasites through the laboratory control of faeces before the treatment and on the 21st day after treatment. The best results in the control of fasciolosis was taken by the combination of Triclabendazole plus Levamisole (95.65%) followed by the combination of Rafoxanide plus Febendazole (92.1%) and finally the combination of Oxyclozanide plus Levamisole (87.3%). In the control of paramphistomiasis the best result was given by the combination of Oxyclozanide plus Levamisole (96.23%) followed by the combination of Rafoxanide plus Febendazole (92.1%) whereas the combination of Triclabendazole plus Levamisole gave an unsatisfying outcome. based on the results above, we recommend that in mix-infestation areas (with fasciolosis and paraphistomiasis) Rafoxanide plus Febendazole or Oxyclozanide plus Levamisole to be used during autumn (not in the milking period).