Farm 6 - Parasites Flashcards
What is an endoparasiticide?
Internal antiparasitics - kill parasites living inside the animal include anthelmintics (agents lethal to worms) and antiprotozoal (agents lethal or suppressive to protozoa)
What are ectoparasiticides?
External antiparasitics - kill parasites living on the outside of an animal, including fleas, ticks, mites, and lice
What are endectocides?
Combine the activity against internal and external parasites
What are group 1 anthelmintics in ruminants?
benzimidazoles, white drench, lots of resistance , still useful for nematodirus
What are group 2 anthelmintics in ruminants?
levamisole, yellow drench, increasing resistance
What are group 3 anthelmintics in ruminants?
the macrocyclic lactones (the avermectins and milbemycins), clear drench
What are group 4 anthelmintics in ruminants?
monepental (trade name Zolvix), orange drench, no resistance yet
What are group 5 anthelmintics in ruminants?
Derquantel, purple drench, dual active product 50% ML abermectic 50% spiroindol
Is there any scientific proof that drug rotation delays or enhances the development of resistance?
No, there is no evidence that drug rotation stops drug resistance.
What anthelmintics are used in horses?
1.Benzimidazoles: (eg. fenbendazole)
2. Tetrahydropyrimidines (eg. pyrantel embonate)
3. Macrocyclic lactones (eg. Iver/aver-mectins)
And for tapeworm ONLY 4. Praziquantel
What anthelmintics are used in cats and dogs?
- Benzimidazoles: (eg. fenbendazole)
- Tetrahydropyrimidines (eg. pyrantel embonate)
- Macrocyclic lactones (eg. Iver/aver-mectins)
And for tapeworm ONLY 4. Praziquantel, Epsiprantel, Dichlorophen
What is the mode of action of benzimidazoles?
Bind to b-tubulin – inhibition of polymerization, causing abnormal microtubule formation and disrupts intracellular homeostasis
What is the mechanism of resistance to benzimidazoles?
A single nucleotide (SNP) change changes the target protein so changes the affinity of the drug to the target
What is the mechanism of action for imidazothiazoles (levimidazole)?
Affect NICOTINIC acetylcholine (nAch) receptors agonists
By mimicking Ach action they change permeability of the post-synaptic membrane, leading to depolarisation and spastic paralysis of the worms
What other effects do imidazothiazoles have?
Immuno-stimulant in some species - was used as a growth promotor
Toxicity in some dogs
What are tetrahydropyrimidines (pyrantel and oxantel) active against?
Active against larval & adult forms of nematodes, but are not active against migrating/arrested larvae, and no action on cestode
How are tetrahydropyrimidines (pyrantel and oxantel) usually formulated?
Usually formulated as tartrate or embonate salts (aka pamoate salt).
Pyrantel tartrate is more water soluble and better absorbed from the GI tract.
The embonate (pamoate) salt is less water soluble and more poorly absorbed, and thus less toxic to the host, and is considered safe to administer to young, sick or pregnant animals
What are macrocytic lactones?
Endectocides
Made up of 2 groups:
- Avermectins
- Milbemycins
What are macrocytic lactones active against?
Arthropods and nematodes
Cestodes, trematodes and adult heart worms are insensitive
Moxidectin effective against strongyles in encysted larval stage
What is the mechanism of action of macrocytic lactones?
Causes permanent opening of Cl channels leading to hyperpolarisation and paralysis of the pharynx, somatic muscle and uterus
How does resistance form against macrocytic lactones?
P-glycoprotein transmembrane transport pump pumps foreign substances out of cells into the GI lumen
(this is also how vertebrates are not affected by this drug)
What is the mechanism of action of mopepental?
Targets MPTL-1 receptors, a unique kind of Ach receptor, so it can co-ordinate its movement.
What is the mechanism of action of spiroindoles?
Ach antagonist causing flaccid paralysis and expulsion of parasites.
What is the mechanism of action of emodepside (a cyclo-octadepsipeptides)?
Acts on a specific class of transmembrane G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR) causing flaccid paralysis of pharynx
Which anthelmintic targets cestodes?
Praziquantel
What is the mechanism of action of praziquantel?
Binds to b-subunit of voltage gated calcium channels leading to spastic and tetanic muscle contractions and vacuolation of the tegument.
Some helminths do not have this subunit – Fasciola spp are not susceptible
Why do we control parasites?
To minimize the risk of parasitic disease
To control parasite egg shedding
To maintain efficacious drugs and avoid further development of resistance
What should be considered before using anthelmintics?
Talk to the client (want to know the history and clinical signs)
Choice of anthelmintic (spectrum, effectiveness, thereputic index, ease of administration, price, residues drug interactions)
Side effects
Which anthelmintics should not be used together?
Pyrantel with piperazine – opposite modes of actions
Which anthelmintic can cause severe reactions in foals?
Moxidectin
What are the toxicity signs of imidazothiazoles?
Salivation, respiratory distress, seizures, vomiting and anaphylaxis, and are related to stimulation of mammalian nicotinic cholinergic receptors
What are the toxicity signs of praziquantel?
Anorexia, vomiting, salivation, diarrhoea, and lethargy in less than 5% of animals
What are the toxicity signs of dichlorophen?
Vomiting, salivation and diarrhoea may be seen after dichlorophen administration.
What are the toxicity signs of benzimidazoles?
Albendazole: Bone marrow suppression has been reported following treatment of dogs and cats and has teratogenic effects if given during pregnancy
Mebendazole and oxibendazole: have been associated with an idiosyncratic hepatotoxic reaction in some dogs
Which breed of dog should ivermectin not be given to?
Collies as they are deficient in P-glycoprotein
How can you deal with resistance to anthelmintics in horses?
FWEC testing
Avoid overuse of one particular active ingredient
Rotate the active ingredient used for each grazing season
Target specific worms with an effective product at the correct time of year
Weigh or weigh tape before dosing
Use pasture management techniques
What pasture management techniques help to reduce worm burden?
Remove dropping regularly (daily – twice a week)
Don’t spread horse manure on pasture
Don’t overstock pastures (1-1.5 acres per horse)
Graze similar ages horses together
Sub-divide grazing areas and rotate
Harrow during dry conditions to expose soil borne larvae
Graze paddocks with other livestock
Worm horses that graze together at the same time with the same product if the FWEC indicates (>200 eggs/g)
What should you advise horse owners about worming?
Record the horses worming activity i.e. FWEC date and result and products and dose used
Discuss worming protocol
Ensure they have an effective fly repellent
Check skin and coat regularly for signs of disease
Do not give moxidectin to foals <6.5 months
Don’t rotate blindly between wormers
Don’t treat at frequent fixed intervals all year round
What can cause lack of efficacy of anthelmintics?
Resistance
Interactions with another drug or health condition in the patient that diminish the drug efficacy
Patient immunodeficiency
Failure to diagnose and treat mixed infections of parasites or other infectious agents
Re-infection/infestation due to contaminated environment
Failure to deliver the correct dosage/form of product, such as compliance failures, usage of out of date products
Unrealistic objective
What are the 3 most important neurotransmitters in nematodes?
ACh – excitatory
GABA – inhibitory
Glutamate – inhibitory
What are some novel strategies for new anthelmintics?
Ovijection (Ovijector ganglion contains many different types of nicotinic Ach receptors)
New neurotransmitters
New ion channels / transporters
Enzymes unique to parasites
Absence of de novo synthesis of purines in protozoa
Trypanosomes depend upon glycolysis of host glucose
Inhibition of protein or DNA synthesis
What are the most common farm animal parasites?
(in order of clinical importance)
- GI Nematodes (Trichostronyles, Nematodirus battus, Haemonchus, Teladorsagia, Ostertagia, Cooperia
- Trematodes (Fasciola hepatica and Oesophagostomum)
- Coccidia (sheep and cattle)
- Lungworms (Cattle and sheep)
- Ectoparasites (Lice and Mites)
- Tapeworms (sheep)
What parasites can sheep and cattle develop immunity to?
Trichostrongyles, Nematodirus battus, Teladorsagia, Ostertagia, Cooperia, Coccidia, Lungworm – requires trickle exposure over time
They will NEVER develop immunity to Fasciola hepatica and Haemonchus contortus