Experiments on the treatment of parasitic gastritis in sheep and lambs

Extract

The results of these experiments are, on the whole, disappointing, since they have failed to reveal a reliable treatment for parasitic gastritis of sheep other than that caused by H. contortus, but they do confirm the experiments of other workers in that there are several drugs available which are more or less effective against this worm. Of these perhaps copper sulphate would seem to be in many ways the best for general use, since it is cheap and safe, and can be easily given either dry in capsules or in solution. Better results are obtained when two doses are given, and probably the interval of 7 days between the doses could, with advantage, be shortened to one or two days. The addition of sodium arsenite did not, in these experiments, increase the efficacy of the copper sulphate.

Carbon tetrachloride, given in 12 c.c. doses would seem to be effective against Haemonchus. In such doses it is rather expensive, and although in these experiments toxic symptoms were not observed, deaths from smaller doses have been recorded by others.

Tetrachlorethylene (Nema) given in capsules containing 5 c.c. gave, in most cases, good results against Haemonchus, and except in Sheep 10 reduced the egg count very considerably. It did, however, cause considerable constipation, and in a few instances post-mortem examination revealed some inflammation of the small intestine. The administration of a laxative with or shortly after the Nema therefore appears to be indicated.