RESUMEN
Haemonchus contortus is the most prevalent and pathogenic gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) in ruminants causing extensive economic losses. It is essential to estimate the efficacy of common commercially available anthelmintics against Haemonchus contortus parasite. Here, we standardized an ex-vivo culture platform for H. contortus and evaluated the efficacy of commonly used anthelmintics namely, albendazole (ABZ), levamisole (LVM), ivermectin (IVM), closantel (CLS) and rafoxanide (RFX). Adult worms were collected from abomasa of slaughtered animals, cultured in MEM, DMEM, M199 or RPMI with or without 20% FBS for up to 72 h. Cultured worms were incubated with ABZ, LVM, IVM, RFX or CLS in DMEM supplemented with 20% FBS at different concentrations (0.5-50 µg/ml) in triplicates and examined at 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 h post treatment. Of the culture conditions, DMEM supplemented with 20% FBS supported the survival of H. contortus for (P < 0.001) longer period of time which was used in the evaluation of anthelmintics. The efficacy of CLS and RFX were significantly (P < 0.001) higher than other drugs and 100% mortality was observed at 2 µg/ml of CLS and RFX within 12 h post treatment. However, ABZ, LVM, and IVM showed significant effect at the concentration of 50 µg/ml with 48, 36, and 24 h, respectively. Morphological changes included severe cuticle disruption around the buccal cavity, posterior region and vulva as well as loss of cuticle structure integrity coupled with expulsion and fragmentation of digestive components of parasites when treated with 50 µg/ml of ABZ, LVM, and IVM and 2 µg/ml of RFX and CLS. Collectively, DMEM supplemented with 20% FBS can be used as ex-vivo culture platform for maintenance of H. contortus, and RFX and CLS can be used as the promising drugs for the prevention, control and treatment of H. contortus infections.
RESUMEN
The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the antagonistic effects of atipamezole and yohimbine on xylazine-induced diuresis in healthy dogs. Five healthy male beagles were assigned to each of the 8 treatment groups in a randomized design at 1-week intervals in the same dog. One group was not medicated. The dogs in the other groups received 2 mg/kg xylazine intramuscularly (IM) and a treatment of saline (control), 50, 100 or 300 microg/kg of each atipamezole or yohimbine IM 0.5 hr later. Urine and blood samples were collected 11 times over the course of 24 hr. Urine volume, pH, specific gravity and creatinine values; osmolality, electrolyte and arginine vasopressin (AVP) values in both urine and plasma; and plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) concentration were measured. Both atipamezole and yohimbine antagonized xylazine-induced diuresis. The reversal effect of yohimbine was more potent, but not dose-dependent at the tested doses, in contrast with atipamezole. Both atipamezole and yohimbine exhibited similar potency in reversing the decreases in urine specific gravity, osmolality, creatinine, sodium and chloride concentrations and the increase in the plasma potassium concentration induced by xylazine. Both also inhibited xylazine-induced diuresis without significantly altering the hormonal profile in the dogs. A higher dose of atipamezole tended to increase the plasma ANP concentration. This may not be due only to actions mediated by alpha(2)-adrenoceptors. Both drugs can be used as antagonistic agents against xylazine-induced diuresis in healthy dogs.
