Efficacy of a Pyrethrum Extract Against Mixed Natural Gastrointestinal Helminths Infestations in Puppies

Abstract

‘Pyrethrins' is the term used for the six known insecticidal constituents of pyrethrum extracted from flowers of Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium. Apart from their insecticidal actions, pyrethrins are also reputed to possess anthelmintic properties. In this study, the anthelmintic efficacy of a pyrethrum extract was determined in 8 to 10 weeks old puppies with mixed natural helminths infestations. The mean and range of pre-treatment hookworms eggs per gram (EPG) of faeces were 3,760(2100 to 6,300) and 4,660(2,900 to 6,300) for the treatment and control groups respectively. The EPG values for the ascarids were 3,560(2,900 to 4,600) for the treatment group and 4,320(2,700 to 6,000) for control group. A single oral dose of the extract was administered to each puppy in the treatment group at a dosage rate of 150mg pyrethrins per kg of body weight. The treatment caused a significant decrease in both hookworm and ascarid faecal egg counts compared to the untreated control (p<0.05). The mean and range of post-treatment hookworms eggs per gram (EPG) of faeces were 740 (100 to 1,800) and 3,900 (2,200 to 5,600) for the treatment and control groups respectively. The EPG values for the ascarids were 1,400(100 to 3,400) for the treatment group and 3,940 (3,200 to 4,300) for control group. Faecal egg count reduction test (FECR) showed that the pyrethrum extract had 76% and 57% efficacy against hookworms and ascarids respectively. The extract also caused expulsion of both adult ascarids and tapeworms in the treated puppies. The adult helminthes recovered from the gastrointestinal tracts of sacrificed puppies were Toxocara canis and Dipylidium caninum.

The Kenya Veterinarian Vol. 29 2005: pp. 81-84