Efficacy of a combination febantel-praziquantel-pyrantel product, with or without vaccination with a commercial Giardia vaccine, for treatment of dogs with naturally occurring giardiasis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine efficacy of treatment with a combination febantel-praziquantel-pyrantel product, with or without vaccination with a commercial Giardia vaccine, in dogs with naturally occurring giardiasis.


METHODS
Prospective trial.


METHODS
16 Beagles naturally infected with Giardia duodenalis.


METHODS
During phase 1, 6 dogs were treated with the parasiticide for 3 days (4 were also vaccinated). Four weeks later, all 6 dogs were treated with the parasiticide again for 5 days and were bathed and moved to clean cages after the last treatment (phase 2). Nine dogs were treated with the parasiticide for 3 (n = 4) or 5 (5) days and bathed and moved to clean cages after the last treatment (phase 3). Fecal samples were collected twice weekly for 24 days after treatment and tested for cysts with a quantitative zinc sulfate flotation technique and for Giardia antigen with an immunoassay.


RESULTS
Dogs in phase 1 were all shedding cysts again by day 24. In phase 2, only 1 dog shed cysts after treatment, and shedding was transient (day 17). In phase 3, neither cysts nor antigen was detected in fecal samples from 2 of 4 dogs treated for 3 days and 4 of 5 dogs treated for 5 days. In 18 of 57 (31.6%) fecal samples, cysts were seen, but results of the immunoassay were negative.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that when a combination febantel-praziquantel-pyrantel product is used to treat dogs with giardiasis, bathing and changing the environment after treatment may be more important in preventing recurrence than duration of treatment.
Payne
Patricia A
PA
Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan 66506, USA.
Ridley
Robert K
RK
Dryden
Michael W
MW
Bathgate
Christine
C
Milliken
George A
GA
Stewart
Patricia W
PW
D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004285:Dogs; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D005872:Giardia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D006146:Guanidines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006920:Hygiene; D008297:Male; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016052:Protozoan Vaccines; D011715:Pyrantel / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D013607:Tablets; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014611:Vaccination / Q000662:veterinary
D000871:Anthelmintics; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006146:Guanidines; D016052:Protozoan Vaccines; D013607:Tablets; D011715:Pyrantel; D011223:Praziquantel; C017309:febantel