SHORT COMMUNICATION

A comparison of the efficacy of doramectin, closantel and levamisole in the treatment of the 'oriental eye fluke', Philophthalmus gralli, in commercially reared ostriches (Struthio camelus)

S Mukaratirwa^I; M Chimbwanda^II; N Matekwe^II; E Matenga^II

^ISchool of Biological and Conservation Sciences, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Durban, 4000 South Africa
^IIDepartment of Paraclinical Veterinary Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Zimbabwe

ABSTRACT

Commercially reared ostriches at Msengi farm situated in the Chinhoyi area of Mashonaland West province in Zimbabwe were found to be infected with the 'oriental eye fluke', Philopthalmus gralli, in 2001. This was the 1st record of the fluke in Zimbabwe. Trials were conducted to identify a suitable drug for the treatment of this fluke. A total of 12 ostriches confirmed to be infected with the fluke through clinical examination of the eyes and identification of the fluke were randomly divided into 3 equal groups, with each group receiving a different treatment protocol. The 3 drugs used were doramectin, levamisole and closantel. Each of the drugs was used in combination with chloramphenicol as an eye ointment. Levamisole was administered topically into the eye whereas doramectin and closantel were administered parenterally as an intramuscular injection. The results indicated a positive response in levamisole-treated birds but there were no noticeable responses to doramectin and closantel treatments.

Keywords: closantel, doramectin, efficacy, levamisole, oriental eye fluke, Philophthalmus gralli, Struthio camelus

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Received: July 2007
Accepted: April 2008

* Author for correspondence. E-mail: mukaratirwa@ukzn.ca.za
Mukaratirwa S, Chimbwanda M, Matekwe N, Matenga E A comparison of the efficacy of doramectin, closantel and levamisole in the treatment of the 'oriental eye fluke', Philopthalmus gralli, in commercially reared ostriches (Struthio camelus). Journal of the South African Veterinary Association (2008) 79(2): 101-103 (En.). School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Durban, South Africa.