Background: Canine demodicosis, a parasitic skin disease, is known to T-cell suppression causing immunosuppression. The use of immunomodulators in the treatment of demodicosis along with a miticidal agent needs to be assessed. 
 
Methods: 12 dogs positive for demodicosis, on the basis of skin scraping examination, were divided into 2 groups of 6 dogs each and were treated with weekly inj. Doramectin @ 0.6 mg/kg body weight s/c alone and in combination with tab. Levamisole @ 2.5 mg/kg body weight weekly. Clinical progress was assessed based on skin scraping and haemato-biochemical examination. Immunomodulation was assessed using ANAE staining technique. 
 
Result: All of the demodectic dogs showed a borderline reduction in Hb, PCV and TEC levels which showed a non-significant yet apparent rise after treatment. Also, there was leucocytosis, accompanied by neutrophilia, eosinophilia and lymphopenia that resolved significantly with treatment. Demodectic dogs had normal ALT and AST levels, normal serum total protein, hypoalbuminemia, hyperglobulinemia and reduced A:G ratio. The ANAE-positive cells (T lymphocytes) were reduced in demodectic dogs on day 0 and increased highly significantly in both groups on day 42. Both groups showed 83.33% recovery and 98.04% reduction in mite count on day 42. Hence, combination of doramectin and levamisole therapy can be used for efficient management of canine demodicosis.&nbsp; 
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Assessment of the Therapeutic Efficacy of Doramectin with and Without Levamisole in Managing Canine Demodicosis

<div>Background: Gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) infection represents several problems to livestock production. Control of GIN infection is usually achieved by the use of chemotherapeutic anthelmintic drugs. However, indiscriminate use of anthelmintics led to development of anthelmintic resistance. An alternative to chemical control is use of bioactive plants in animal feeds as natural anthelmintics. The objective of this experiment was to compare the effects of polyherbal additive containing high concentrations of saponins with a conventional chemical antiparasitic drug on performance and GIN counts of ewes. 
 
Methods: Sixteen hair ewes (creole 19.05&plusmn;0.895 kg initial BW) fed a basal diet, were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: 1) Doramectin (0.2 mg/kg BW, as positive control); 2) Polyherbal additive, Peptasan (4 grams/lamb/day) and 3) Control group that was not dewormed. The experiment was conducted for 28 days. At 0, 14, 21 and 28 parasite infections were assessed by fecal egg counts (FEC). 
 
Result: The daily gain was positively correlated (P&lt;0.01) with herbal product (261 g/d) and Doramectin (146 g/d), in contrast with the control group (33 g/d). The number of eggs per gram of feces (EPG) was significantly (P&lt;0.01) reduced by Peptasan (90 EPG) compared to Doramectin (711 EPG) after 28 days of treatment. At the same time the EPG in control group was remained unchanged (4566 eggs/g). Infection with GIN can affect feed utilization and lamb performance and polyherbal products are alternative anthelmintics to reduce the parasitic infection in growing ewes.</div>

Assessment of the Therapeutic Efficacy of Doramectin with and Without Levamisole in Managing Canine Demodicosis

​Effect of a Polyherbal Additive on Performance and Parasite Infection of Hair Creole Ewes

Effect of a Polyherbal Additive on Performance and Parasite Infection of Hair Creole Ewes