Verhinderung der neonatalen Infektion von Welpen mit Toxocara canis WERNER 1782 (Anisakidae) durch Behandlung der Hündin während der Trächtigkeit mit Emodepsid (2004)

These
 investigations tested to which extend prenatal and galactogenic infections of
 puppies with Toxocara canis can be prevented by treatment of the
 bitch with the anthelmintic substance emodepside. Eighteen experimentally
 infected bitches were used, from which six dogs stayed untreated. Six dogs
 were treated daily between day 42 of pregnancy (treatment group 1) and
 six dogs were treated every third day between day 42 of pregnancy and birth
 of their puppies (treatment group 2). Both groups were treated orally
 with a tablet formulation at a dose rate of
 1 mg emodepside / kg body weight. Three parameters were
 used to examine the efficacy of emodepside: number of somatic larvae after
 tissue digestion of liver, lungs, kidneys, skeletal muscle, stomach and gut
 inclusive contents (euthanasia of the puppies directly after birth), number
 of parasite eggs per gram faeces and number of intestinal stages of T. canis
 after gut washing (euthanasia of the puppies on the 35th day of
 life).
 Faecal
 egg reduction in treatment group 1 was 99,9 %, reduction of somatic
 larvae after tissue digestion was 96,4 % and reduction of the number of
 intestinal stages after gut washing was 99,9 %. In treatment
 group 2 the faecal egg reduction was also 99,9 %. For the parameter
 number of somatic larvae after tissue digestion and number of intestinal
 stages after gut washing the reduction in treatment group 2 was
 calculated with 93,8 % and 98,7 % respectively. The efficacy of
 emodepside in both treatment groups for each parameter and the mean of the
 three parameters for each group (treatment group 1= 98,7 %,
 treatment group 2= 97,5 %) exceed the required
 effectiveness
 from the International Cooperation on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements
 for Registration of Veterinary Medicinal Products (VICH) Guideline 7 of
 at least 90 % for anthelmintical substances.
 In
 addition to the parasitic studies haematological parameters as number of red
 and white blood cells, haematocrit, haemoglobin, neutrophile and eosinophile
 granulocytes and lymphocyte counts as well as serological parameters as the
 liver enzymes aspartate- aminotransferase, alanine- aminotransferase,
 glutamate- dehydrogenase (in the bitches only), from bitches and their
 puppies were measured.
 From the
 second week of life all bitches of the nonmedicated group and their puppies
 were positive for T. canis eggs. The puppies showed signs of a
 severe toxocarosis. The puppies of both treatment groups showed no changes in
 clinical attitude or body development until the end of the investigations. An
 eosinophilia was observed in the bitches and puppies of the nonmedicated
 group over the whole study period and this was interpreted as sign of the
 infection with T. canis. In contrast to the puppies of the two
 medicated groups the puppies of the nonmedicated group showed an increase of
 the liver enzymes during the first to weeks of life. No significant
 differences were seen in the other haematological parameters between the
 bitches or the puppies of the different study groups.
 No side
 effects were seen in the bitches nor showed the puppies malformation due to
 the treatment with emodepside.