Fenbendazole treatment without environmental decontamination eradicates Syphacia muris from all rats in a large, complex research institution.
Syphacia muris parasitism was eliminated from rats and voles by feeding fenbendazole-medicated chow (150 ppm) for five 7-day periods; treatment periods were separated by 7-day periods of feeding non-medicated chow, yielding atotal treatment course of 9 weeks. No other manipulations to facilitate eradication, including the use of filter tops, autoclaved cages, environmental decontamination, colony depopulation, breeding cessation, and research restriction, were done. The examination of 3143 cellophane-tape impressions of the anus and 160 cecal examinations from euthanized rats and voles during the treatment period and for 7 months afterwards confirmed the efficacy of treatment. Treatment was rapidly effective in voles. In rats, pinworm eggs persisted at high levels for 2 weeks after the start of treatment, but no eggs were found after 22 days.
Huerkamp
M J
MJ
Division of Animal Resources, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
Benjamin
K A
KA
Zitzow
L A
LA
Pullium
J K
JK
Lloyd
J A
JA
Thompson
W D
WD
Webb
S K
SK
Lehner
N D
ND
D001003:Anal Canal / Q000469:parasitology; D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D000830:Animals, Laboratory; D000969:Antinematodal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003411:Arvicolinae; D006224:Cricetinae; D003666:Decontamination; D017229:Enterobiasis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D004757:Enterobius / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005273:Fenbendazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006799:Housing, Animal; D010270:Parasite Egg Count / Q000662:veterinary; D051381:Rats; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000969:Antinematodal Agents; D005273:Fenbendazole