Evaluation of Anthelmintic Resistance of Benzimidazole and Levamisole on Gastrointestinal Nematode Parasites of Cattle

Gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) resistant to anthelmintics have been reported in several regions of India which may be associated with economic losses for the cattle industry. This study aimed to evaluate the anthelmintic resistance (AR) for gastrointestinal nematodes from naturally infected cattle in Assam to several commercially available anthelmintics like fenbendazole, albendazole and levamisole. The faecal samples were collected per rectum from 325 cattle to screen for detection of GINs and examined qualitatively by floatation and sedimentation technique and quantitively by Stoll’s egg counting method. The parasites found positive were Haemonchus, Trichostrongylus, Oesophagostomum, Cooperia and Mecistocirus genera. To evaluate AR by FECRT, 24 animals were randomly selected irrespective of sex and age having EPG >200 then divided into four groups consisting of six animals in each group before treatment. The first, second and third group was treated with fenbendazole (@ 5 mg/kg), albendazole (@ 7.5 mg/kg) and levamisole (@ 7.5 mg/kg) body weight, respectively and the fourth group was kept as infected untreated control. Faecal samples were collected per-rectally on 0th day (pre-treatment) and 10 and 14th day post-treatment from animals of all groups and individual faecal egg counts were determined by Stooll’s egg counting technique. The study revealed FECR% of 100.00, 85.00 and 90.00% in animals of first, second and third group, respectively. The study indicated that the GINs of cattle have developed BZ resistance and there is need to control it at an earliest with levamisole.