Comparative efficacy of fumaria parviflora and morantel tartrate against mixed gastrointestinal nematode infection in sheep

ABSTRACT

Faecal eggs per gram [EPG] counts were determined before and after administration of powdered whole plant of Fumaria parviflora, Lam. in 0.5, 1 and 2 g/kg body weight doses in the sheep suffering from mixed gastrointestinal nematode infection. Non-significant reduction of EPG counts were produced on post-treatment days 3rd, 10th and 15th at 0.5 g/kg body weight. However, in 1 and 2 g/kg body weight doses EPG values were significantly [P<0.05 or 0.001] reduced on days 10 and 15. The water and ethanol extracts of F. parviflora equivalent to 2 g/kg of the crude powder were.also administered orally to the infected sheep. The water extract could not significantly reduce the EPG counts on all post-treatment days checked. However, the ethanol extract produced a highly significant decrease in EPG values on days 10 and 15. Morantel tartrate [0.01 g/kg] produced a highly significant reduction of EPG counts in the treated sheep. These data suggested that 2 g/kg of F. parviflora and its equivalent ethanol extract and Morantel tartrate [0.01 g/kg] are equipotent in treating the sheep suffering from natural mixed gastrointestinal nematode infection