Comparison of the Anthelmintic Efficacy of Three Commercial Products against Ascarids and Capillaria SPP. in Fighting Cocks

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the anthelmintic efficacy of three commercial compounds against ascarids and Capillaria spp. in naturally infected fighting cocks from Mexico. First experiment.- Forty cocks were selected on the basis of eggs per gram (EPG) counts quantified by the McMaster method. On day 0 the birds were divided into four groups of 10 cocks, each subjected to the treatments. Group 1 received a single oral dose of 1 mg of ivermectin, 25 mg of praziquantel and 40 mg of fenbendazole given in tablets according to body weight (b.w). Group 2 was treated with a single oral dose of 1 mg of ivermectin, 25 mg of praziquantel and 40 mg of fenbendazole given in tablets/b.w. but formulated with a different excipient. Group 3 received a single tablet containing 0.2 mg of abamectin and 30 mg of albendazole. Group 4 served as a non-treated control. Fecal analyses were carried out on days 0 (day of treatment), 7, 14, 21 and 28, being collected from the floor where the cocks were individually caged. Efficacy was measured on the percentage of egg reduction from day 0 with respect the EPG counts from the control group. In a second experiment the study was similarly performed using another cock-farm located at approximately 300 km away from the first one. Results indicated an overall efficacy of 100%, 94.0% and 100% for groups 1, 2 and 3 in the first experiment and 100%, 100%, 100% for groups 1, 2 and 3 of the 2nd experiment, respectively. It is concluded that all drugs used exerted high efficacy in fighting cocks naturally infected with helminths.