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Veterinary Parasitology Jun 2023The faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) remains the method of choice for establishing the efficacy of anthelmintic compounds in the field, including the diagnosis of... (Review)
Review
World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology (W.A.A.V.P.) guideline for diagnosing anthelmintic resistance using the faecal egg count reduction test in ruminants, horses and swine.
The faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) remains the method of choice for establishing the efficacy of anthelmintic compounds in the field, including the diagnosis of anthelmintic resistance. We present a guideline for improving the standardization and performance of the FECRT that has four sections. In the first section, we address the major issues relevant to experimental design, choice of faecal egg count (FEC) method, statistical analysis, and interpretation of the FECRT results. In the second section, we make a series of general recommendations that are applicable across all animals addressed in this guideline. In the third section, we provide separate guidance details for cattle, small ruminants (sheep and goats), horses and pigs to address the issues that are specific to the different animal types. Finally, we provide overviews of the specific details required to conduct an FECRT for each of the different host species. To address the issues of statistical power vs. practicality, we also provide two separate options for each animal species; (i) a version designed to detect small changes in efficacy that is intended for use in scientific studies, and (ii) a less resource-intensive version intended for routine use by veterinarians and livestock owners to detect larger changes in efficacy. Compared to the previous FECRT recommendations, four important differences are noted. First, it is now generally recommended to perform the FECRT based on pre- and post-treatment FEC of the same animals (paired study design), rather than on post-treatment FEC of both treated and untreated (control) animals (unpaired study design). Second, instead of requiring a minimum mean FEC (expressed in eggs per gram (EPG)) of the group to be tested, the new requirement is for a minimum total number of eggs to be counted under the microscope (cumulative number of eggs counted before the application of a conversion factor). Third, we provide flexibility in the required size of the treatment group by presenting three separate options that depend on the (expected) number of eggs counted. Finally, these guidelines address all major livestock species, and the thresholds for defining reduced efficacy are adapted and aligned to host species, anthelmintic drug and parasite species. In conclusion, these new guidelines provide improved methodology and standardization of the FECRT for all major livestock species.
Topics: Animals; Horses; Cattle; Sheep; Swine; Parasite Egg Count; Ovum; Anthelmintics; Feces; Goats; Drug Resistance
PubMed: 37121092
DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2023.109936 -
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine... Aug 2022Helminths or Parasitic worms of humans may cause chronic and sometimes deadly diseases, considered as neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that infect around two billion... (Review)
Review
Helminths or Parasitic worms of humans may cause chronic and sometimes deadly diseases, considered as neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that infect around two billion people worldwide. Plants have been used as anthelmintics from ancient times. This review is a compilation of plants as source of anthelmintic drug. All information presented in this review article regarding the anthelmintic activities of plants from 2005 and has been acquired by approaching various electronic databases, including Scopus, Google scholar, Web of science and PubMed. Literature was surveyed for anthelmintic activity of plants which showed that secondary metabolites of plants like terpenes, glycosides, saponins, flavonoids, tannins and alkaloids were having anthelmintic activity. Since this review is a compilation of anthelmintic activity of plants from the year 2005, it will definitely be a fruitful study for researchers working in this field.
Topics: Anthelmintics; Flavonoids; Humans; Plant Extracts; Saponins
PubMed: 35848982
DOI: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2022.04.007 -
Advances in Parasitology 2022Anthelmintic resistance (AR) is a growing concern for effective parasite control in farmed ruminants globally. Combatting AR will require intensified and integrated... (Review)
Review
Anthelmintic resistance (AR) is a growing concern for effective parasite control in farmed ruminants globally. Combatting AR will require intensified and integrated research efforts in the development of innovative diagnostic tests to detect helminth infections and AR, sustainable anthelmintic treatment strategies and the development of complementary control approaches such as vaccination and plant-based control. It will also require a better understanding of socio-economic drivers of anthelmintic treatment decisions, in order to support a behavioural shift and develop targeted communication strategies that promote the uptake of evidence-based sustainable solutions. Here, we review the state-of-the-art in these different fields of research activity related to AR in helminths of livestock ruminants in Europe and beyond. We conclude that in the advent of new challenges and solutions emerging from continuing spread of AR and intensified research efforts, respectively, there is a strong need for transnational multi-actor initiatives. These should involve all key stakeholders to develop indicators of infection and sustainable control, set targets and promote good practices to achieve them.
Topics: Animals; Anthelmintics; Drug Resistance; Helminthiasis, Animal; Helminths; Livestock; Nematoda; Nematode Infections; Ruminants; Sheep; Sheep Diseases
PubMed: 35249662
DOI: 10.1016/bs.apar.2021.12.002 -
Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology 2021Helminths infections are among the most important problems in animal health and husbandry. Moreover, zoonotic helminths endanger rural communities, particularly in... (Review)
Review
Helminths infections are among the most important problems in animal health and husbandry. Moreover, zoonotic helminths endanger rural communities, particularly in developing countries. Helminthiasis are not only important in relation to the harmful effects of parasites; additional issues like anthelmintic resistance spread became more important over time. As new anthelmintic development takes many years and millions of dollars of investment, some strategies are currently focused on the modification of already available drugs, in order to improve their efficacy and overcome their limitations. In this field, nanotechnology has brought a novel approach, showing advantages like the regulation of the drug's delivery and kinetics, reaching of specific targets, and possibilities to avoid the systemic spread and side effects. Taking this into account, the present review aims to introduce some of the current knowledge in anthelmintic improvement based on nanotechnology, and how researchers could benefit from this technology in order to overcome the drugs limitations. Finally, some insights into potential field applications are discussed, based on the most important concerns of current anthelmintic therapy.
Topics: Animals; Anthelmintics; Helminths; Nanotechnology
PubMed: 32448112
DOI: 10.2174/2211738508666200524233724 -
Veterinary Parasitology Sep 2018Internal parasites of horses comprise an intractable problem conferring disease, production and performance losses. Parasitism can rarely be controlled in grazing horses... (Review)
Review
Internal parasites of horses comprise an intractable problem conferring disease, production and performance losses. Parasitism can rarely be controlled in grazing horses by management alone and anthelmintic drugs have formed the basis of therapy and prophylaxis for the last sixty years. The pharmacology of the anthelmintic drugs available dictate their spectrum of activity and degree of efficacy, their optimal routes of administration and characteristics which prevent some routes of administration, their safety tolerance and potential toxicities and as a consequence of their persistence in the body at effective concentrations their use in epidemiological control programmes. Their use has also resulted in the selection of parasites with genetically controlled characteristics which reduce their susceptibility to treatment, characteristics which are often common to whole chemical classes of anthelmintics. Pharmacological properties also confer compatibility in terms of safety and persistence with other anthelmintic drugs and thus the potential of combinations to treat parasites from different phylogenetic groups such as nematodes, cestodes and trematodes and also the potential by agency of their different molecular mechanisms of action to delay the selection of resistant genes. The major groups of anthelmintics now available, the benzimidazoles (BZD), macrocyclic lactones (MLs) and tetrahydropyrimidines are all highly effective against their targeted parasites (primarily nematodes for BZD's and ML's and cestodes for tetrahydropyrimidines) easily administered orally to horses and are well tolerated with wide margins of safety. Nevertheless, some parasitic stages are inherently less susceptible such as hypobiotic stages of the small strongyles (cyathostomins) and for some such as the adult stages of cyathostomins resistance has developed. Furthermore, for some less common parasites such as the liver fluke unlicensed drugs such as the salicylanilide, closantel have been used. A deep understanding of the pharmacology of anthelmintic drugs is essential to their optimal use in equine species.
Topics: Animals; Anthelmintics; Drug Resistance; Equidae; Helminths
PubMed: 30253849
DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2018.08.002 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Nov 2022Helminths, with an estimated 1.5 billion annual global infections, are one of the major health challenges worldwide. The current strategy of the World Health... (Review)
Review
Helminths, with an estimated 1.5 billion annual global infections, are one of the major health challenges worldwide. The current strategy of the World Health Organization to prevent helminth infection includes increasing hygienic awareness, providing better sanitation and preventative anthelmintic drug therapy in vulnerable populations. Nowadays, anthelmintic drugs are used heavily in livestock, both in case of infection and as a preventative measure. However, this has led to the development of resistance against several of the most common drugs, such as levamisole, ivermectin and thiabendazole. As many as 70% of the livestock in developed countries now has helminths that are drug resistant, and multiple resistance is common. Because of this, novel anthelmintics are urgently needed to help combat large-scale production losses. Prior to this review, no comprehensive review of the anthelmintic effects of essential oils and their components existed. Multiple review articles have been published on the uses of a single plant and its extracts that only briefly touch upon their anthelmintic activity. This review aims to provide a detailed overview of essential oils and their components as anthelmintic treatment against a wider variety of helminths.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Oils, Volatile; Anthelmintics; Helminths; Helminthiasis; Levamisole; Drug Resistance
PubMed: 36500419
DOI: 10.3390/molecules27238327 -
Advances in Parasitology 2019The soil-transmitted helminths (STHs), Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm and Trichuris trichiura are common in areas with warm and moist climates with little access to... (Review)
Review
The soil-transmitted helminths (STHs), Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm and Trichuris trichiura are common in areas with warm and moist climates with little access to adequate water, sanitation, and hygiene affecting the poorest populations. The current control strategy of the World Health Organization is preventive chemotherapy (PC), i.e., the administration of the two benzimidazoles (albendazole and mebendazole) using single, oral doses to at risk populations without prior diagnosis. The recent success of PC is threatened by anthelmintic drug resistance and the low efficacy of the drugs against hookworm (mebendazole) and T. trichiura (albendazole and mebendazole). Only a handful of alternative drugs with anthelmintic properties are available, however, none of the drugs show high efficacy against all three STHs. The combination of two drugs with different activity profiles presents an attractive alternative, which could prevent the development of drug resistance and increase the efficacy compared to monotherapy. In this review, we summarize the efficacy of current and alternative anthelmintics, coadministrations and triple drug therapies assessed by means of network meta-analysis including only randomized controlled trials. Our results highlight that coadministrations have improved efficacy over monotherapy and the necessity of adapting current STH control strategies for the successful continuation of PC programs.
Topics: Animals; Anthelmintics; Drug Therapy, Combination; Helminthiasis; Helminths; Humans; Soil
PubMed: 30878060
DOI: 10.1016/bs.apar.2018.08.002 -
Natural Product Reports Nov 2023Covering literature to December 2022This review provides a comprehensive account of all natural products (500 compounds, including 17 semi-synthetic derivatives)... (Review)
Review
Covering literature to December 2022This review provides a comprehensive account of all natural products (500 compounds, including 17 semi-synthetic derivatives) described in the primary literature up to December 2022, reported to be capable of inhibiting the egg hatching, motility, larval development and/or the survival of helminths (, nematodes, flukes and tapeworms). These parasitic worms infect and compromise the health and welfare, productivity and lives of commercial livestock (, sheep, cattle, horses, pigs, poultry and fish), companion animals (, dogs and cats) and other high value, endangered and/or exotic animals. Attention is given to chemical structures, as well as source organisms and anthelmintic properties, including the nature of bioassay target species, animal hosts, and measures of potency.
Topics: Animals; Cattle; Sheep; Horses; Dogs; Cats; Swine; Biological Products; Cat Diseases; Dog Diseases; Anthelmintics; Nematoda; Helminths
PubMed: 37555325
DOI: 10.1039/d3np00019b -
Journal of Ethnopharmacology Jun 2022Cissampelos mucronata A. Rich., a perennial climber belonging to the family Menispermaceae, has been used traditionally to treat parasites and tuberculosis-related...
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE
Cissampelos mucronata A. Rich., a perennial climber belonging to the family Menispermaceae, has been used traditionally to treat parasites and tuberculosis-related symptoms. Co-infection of helminth parasites and tuberculosis-causing pathogens heightens the risk of developing active tuberculosis.
AIM OF THE STUDY
The aim was to isolate and characterize antimycobacterial compounds from Cissampelos mucronata and to investigate their antibiofilm and anthelmintic efficacy as well as cytotoxicity.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The acetone extract of C. mucronata leaves and stems was fractionated by vacuum liquid chromatography using hexane, ethyl acetate, acetone and methanol:chloroform (3:7). Separation of the active ethyl acetate fraction by column and preparative thin layer chromatography led to the isolation and identification of five compounds using NMR and LC-MS, as well as GC-MS for non-polar compounds. The anthelmintic, antimycobacterial, antibiofilm, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects as well as cytotoxicity of the fractions and compounds were determined.
RESULTS
The ethyl acetate fraction had the best antimycobacterial activity (MIC = 0.015-0.08 mg/ml). The fractions were relatively non-toxic to Vero cells (0.03-0.79 mg/ml) and had good anti-inflammatory and antibiofilm effects. Five compounds were identified as stigmasterol, hentriacontane, simiarenol, nonacosene and carbonic acid. Nonacosene had moderate anthelmintic effects but poor antimycobacterial activity (MIC = 0.375 mg/ml). Nonacosene and hentriacontane had good biofilm inhibitory effect (90-100%).
CONCLUSIONS
This study reveals that C. mucronata is a potential source of promising compounds with a range of useful bioactivities that support its use in traditional medicine. Development of plant-based remedies may assist in reducing the impact of co-infections with helminth parasites and tuberculosis-causing mycobacteria.
Topics: Acetone; Animals; Anthelmintics; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Chlorocebus aethiops; Cissampelos; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Plant Extracts; Vero Cells
PubMed: 35292375
DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2022.115130 -
Experimental Parasitology Nov 2021More than 50 years after anthelmintic resistance was first identified, its prevalence and impact on the animal production industry continues to increase across the... (Review)
Review
More than 50 years after anthelmintic resistance was first identified, its prevalence and impact on the animal production industry continues to increase across the world. The term "anthelmintic resistance" (AR) can be briefly defined as the reduction in efficacy of a certain dose of anthelmintic drugs (AH) in eliminating the presence of a parasite population that was previously susceptible. The main aim of this study is to examine anthelmintic resistance in domestic herbivores. There are numerous factors playing a role in the development of AR, but the most important is livestock management. The price of AH and the need to treat a high number of animals mean that farmers face significant costs in this regard, yet, since 1981, little progress has been made in the discovery of new molecules and the time and cost required to bring a new AH to market has increased dramatically in recent decades. Furthermore, resistance has also emerged for new AH, such as monepantel or derquantel. Consequently, ruminant parasitism cannot be controlled solely by using synthetic chemicals. A change in approach is needed, using a range of preventive measures in order to achieve a sustainable control programme. The use of nematophagous fungi or of plant extracts rich in compounds with anthelmintic properties, such as terpenes, condensed tannins, or flavonoids, represent potential alternatives. Nevertheless, although new approaches are showing promising results, there is still much to do. More research focused on the control of AR is needed.
Topics: Animals; Anthelmintics; Drug Resistance; Flavonoids; Fungi; Horse Diseases; Horses; Nematoda; Nematode Infections; Phytotherapy; Proanthocyanidins; Ruminants
PubMed: 34627787
DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2021.108169