NEW DRUG-ALBENDAZOLE
ALBENDAZOLE
Albendazole is a broad spectrum parasiticide. It has a variety of uses which are described in brief below.
Small animals (dogs and cats)
In small animals, albendazole is not usually used for routine deworming; it is often used for uncommon infections.
In cats and dogs, albendazole can be used to treat Paragonimus kellicotti infections. Paragonimus kellicotti is a type of trematode (fluke). The adults causes cysts to form in the lung of dogs and cats; infected animals may exhibit respiratory signs, including coughing, dyspnea, pneumothorax, bronchiectasis, and hemoptysis.
Albendazole has been used to treat capillariasis caused by Capillaria plica (dogs and cats) and C. felis cati (cats). Capillaria infect the urinary bladder, thus they are often called bladder worms.
In dogs, albendazole has also been used to treat Filaroides infections and Giardia infections.
Equine (horses)
Albendazole has been found to be effective (>90%) against adults of large and small strongyles, horse pinworm Oxyuris equi (>90% against immature stages), and Parascaris equorum. Albendazole can also be used for lungworm (Dictyocaulus arnfieldi) infection of horses. The drug has moderate effect against 4th stage larvae of small strongyles in the gut lumen and excellent efficacy against 30-day-old migrating larvae of S. vulgaris but the regimen can cause unpredictable side effects such as diarrhoea.
Sheep
In sheep, albendazole is used for the control of adult liver flukes (Fasciola hepatica, Fascioloides magna), common tapeworm (Moniezia expansa), and fringed tapeworm (Thysanosoma actinioides).
It is also effective against adult and 4th stage larvae of brown stomach worm (Ostertagia circumcinta, Marshallagia marshalli), barberpole worm (Haemonchus contortus), and small stomach worm (Trichostrongylus axei).
Adult and 4th stage larvae of thread-necked intestinal worm (Nematodirus spathiger, N. filicollis), Cooper's Worm (Cooperia oncophora), bankrupt worm (Trichostrongylus colubriformis), nodular worm (Oesophagostomum columbianum), and large-mouth bowel worm (Chabertia ovina) can also be effectively controlled by albendazole.
Albendazole is also effective against adult and larval stages of the lungworm Dictyocaulus filaria.
Goats
In goats, albendazole is used for the control of adult liver fluke Fasciola hepatica.
Cattle
In cattle, albendazole can be used for the control of infections by adult liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica), tapeworm (Monezia benedini and M. Expansa), brown stomach worm (Ostertagia ostertagi), barberpole worm (Haemonchus contortus, H. placei), and small stomach worm (Trichostrongylus axei).
It is also effective against adult and 4th stage larvae of thread-necked intestinal worm (Nematodirus spathiger, N. helvetianus), small intestinal worm (Cooperia punctata, C. oncophora), adult stage of hookworm (Bunostomum phlebotomum), bankrupt worm (Trichostrongylus colubriformis), nodular worm (Oesophagostomum radiatum), and adult and 4th stage larvae of lungworm Dictyocaulus viviparous.
Dosage
Albendazole is reasonably safe anti-parasitic, and it has a wide dosing window. Compiled below is a list of some of the approximate doses for albendazole based on a particular species of animal:
(1) In dogs, albendazole is used in the treatment of a variety of conditions and the doses range from 10mg/kg , 25mg/kg, and up to 50mg/kg.
(2) In horses, the dose for albendazole ranges from 5 mg/kg up to 25mg/kg
(3)In sheep and goats, potential doses for albendazole may range from 5 mg/kg up to 15mg/kg depending on the infection
(4)In cattle, albendazole may be given at doses between 7.5mg/kg and 10mg/kg
Available options for Albendazole
Compounded Treatments
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Bova offers a number of available compounded options for albendazole including: a)suspension b)fixed dose capsules c)transdermals For advice about what suits your case best speak to one of our trained pharmacist or staff for advice. |
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Commercial Options
The APVMA currently has approved a variety of individual and combination anti-parasitic. If you would like information on the available commercial options this can be found at www.apvma.gov.au
WRITTEN BY:
Alexander Corry B.Pharm
Chief Pharmacist
Bova Compounding
References
(1) D .Plumb Plumb’s Veterinary Drug Handbook 7th Edition PharmaVet Inc 2012
(2) Tilley, Smith The 5 minute Vet Consult: Canine and Feline 3rd Edition, Lippincourt, Wiley and Williams Inc 2004