title: Toxic effects of mebendazole at high dose on the haematology of red-legged pademelons (Thylogale stigmatica).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of mebendazole at high dose on the haematology of macropods. Experimental.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five red-legged pademelons (Thylogale stigmatica) were dosed orally with mebendazole at 50 mg/kg/d for 5 to 6 days. Two control pademelons were dosed with water. Regular blood samples were taken for haematology over 20 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All four treated pademelons sampled at 5 days developed severe leucopenia and neutropenia, moderate lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia, eosinopenia and monocytopenia, as well as bone marrow aplasia within 5 to 11 days after the first mebendazole dose. Four pademelons died unexpectedly or became ill and were euthanased 5 to 11 days after the first dose while the other animal recovered after 5 days of illness. Necropsy revealed systemic infection with opportunistic enteric bacteria, non-suppurative inflammation in tissues, haemorrhage and ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Red-legged pademelons rapidly develop bone-marrow aplasia and subsequent septicaemia after administration of high doses of mebendazole. Mebendazole at high doses should not be used for macropods.
authors.affiliation: Wildlife Disease Unit, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville 4811. richard.speare@jcu.edu.au
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Speare
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Skerratt
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000380:Agranulocytosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D000969:Antinematodal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008394:Marsupialia / Q000378:metabolism*; D008463:Mebendazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D000969:Antinematodal Agents; D008463:Mebendazole