Asian Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology

Ancylostoma and Toxocara species are two common gastrointestinal nematodes affecting dogs in West Bengal, India. Ivermectin is commonly used as an effective anthelmintic in dogs; therefore, its efficacy requires regular monitoring. This study evaluated the efficacy of ivermectin against naturally occurring Ancylostoma and Toxocara infections in dogs. Twenty non-descript mongrel dogs of either sex, aged 6-12 months, were selected from a non-governmental organisation in Kolkata; all dogs were naturally infected with Ancylostoma and Toxocara species. Faecal egg counts, expressed as eggs per gram of faeces (EPG), were determined for all dogs. Based on their EPG values, the dogs were divided into two equal groups. One group (n = 10) received ivermectin at 0.2 mg/kg body weight by the subcutaneous route, while the other group served as an infected, untreated control (n = 10). Faecal egg counts were reassessed at 10 days post-treatment (DPT). Haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), total erythrocyte count (TEC), and total serum protein (TSP) concentration were measured at 0 and 10 DPT. Ivermectin produced a 100% reduction in faecal egg counts for both Toxocara and Ancylostoma. A single administration of ivermectin significantly improved haematological values and serum protein concentration in treated dogs compared with untreated infected dogs. These findings indicate that ivermectin was highly effective against the gastrointestinal nematodes detected under the conditions of this study.