Experimental studies on hookworm infection: (v) effect of anthelmintic therapy on the level of acquired Resistance in local dogs

Abstract

Effect of serial anthelmintic therapy on the level of acquired resistance induced by serial hookworm infection of local pups was studied. Typical clinical signs of ancylostomiosis developed earlier and were more severe in the single-treatment group at the primary infection phase than in the multiple—treatment where mild and completely abated in the infection and challenge phase respectively. Similarly, haematological, coprological, live weight and the necropsy worm burden data supported a higher resistance in the multiple-treatment group. This was attributable to the timely anthelmintic removal of the blood—sucking, bloodletting and egg-laying adult worms and the serial replenishment with the equally—immunizing, but non-sucking infective hookworm larvae. These results provided a good justification for the regular anthelmintic treatments of pups in order to boost their resistance to endemic hook worm infection.


(Tropical Veterinarian: 2002 20(1): 40-47)