Moxidectin-resistant nematodes in cattle in Brazil.

The frequent use of anthelmintics in cattle has contributed to the emergence of gastrointestinal nematode populations resistant to the drugs available in the market. This study aimed to evaluate moxidectin efficacy in a property with suspected presence of Oesophagostomum spp. resistant to such anthelmintic. The accuracy of fecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) was also assessed through comparison with the data obtained in the controlled efficacy test (worm burden determination after necropsy). Twenty worm free steers were placed together with cattle of the farm with suspected moxidectin resistance. They became naturally infected with the parasite species present in the farm, and when fecal egg counts (FEC) were higher than 200eggs/g, the animals were randomly distributed into two groups. One group (n=10) was treated with moxidectin (0.2mg/kg; Cydectin((R)), Fort Dodge) and the other was the control group (n=10). Fecal samples from each steer were collected on the treatment day and three, seven, 10 and 14 days later for FEC and fecal cultures. At 14 days after treatment, all animals were sacrificed and the gastrointestinal nematodes were recovered, identified and counted. Mean FEC reduction in the treated group (compared with control group) was of 88, 85, 88 and 92% at days three, seven, 10 and 14 after treatment, respectively. In fecal cultures, third stage larvae of Cooperia spp. and Oesophagostomum spp. were predominant. As regards the controlled efficacy test, moxidectin had 100% efficacy against the genera Haemonchus spp. and Trichostrongylus spp., and efficacy of 65.2% for Cooperia spp. (Cooperia punctata and Cooperia pectinata), 44.8% for Oesophagostomum radiatum, and 81.4% for Trichuris spp. Most of the Cooperia spp. females obtained from the control animals showed eggs inside the uterus (98.5%); conversely, only 48.2% of the females from the treated group had eggs (P<0.001). Considering the suppression in egg output following moxidectin treatment, FECRT has to be employed with caution to avoid under estimation of the anthelmintic resistance. From necropsy results, it can be concluded that C. punctata, C. pectinata, O. radiatum and Trichuris spp. showed resistance to moxidectin.

Anthelmintic resistance in cattle nematodes in northwestern São Paulo State, Brazil.

The present study was carried out in the northwestern region of São Paulo State, Brazil, to determine the anthelmintic resistance status in cattle naturally infected with gastrointestinal nematodes. The anthelmintics tested were levamisole phosphate (Ripercol, Fort Dodge), albendazole sulphoxide (Ricobendazole, Fort Dodge), ivermectin (Ivomec, Merial) and moxidectin (Cydectin, Fort Dodge), administered at the doses recommended by the manufacturers. From April 2002 to May 2004, 25 cattle farms were evaluated. On each farm, steers were divided into treatment and control (not treated) groups based on fecal egg counts (FEC). Between 7 and 10 days after the anthelmintics administration, fecal samples were collected from each animal for post-treatment FEC. Fecal cultures from each group were also prepared for larval identification. After treatment, mean FEC reduction (FECR) in treatment groups (compared with control groups) was assessed on each farm. FECR was lower than 90% on 23 farms after ivermectin treatment. On 19 farms, FECR of 100% was recorded following moxidectin treatment; on the remaining 6, FECR ranged from 90% to 97.2%. After albendazole treatment, FECR was higher than 90% on 20 farms and ranged from 47.4% to 84.6% on other 5. After levamisole treatment, FECR was higher than 90% on 23 farms and equal to 47.4% and 73.7% on other 2 farms. Results indicated the presence of resistant Cooperia spp. and Haemonchus spp., especially to ivermectin; on some farms, resistance to albendazole and levamisole was also observed.