Testing of micronized praziquantel and albendazole dosage forms against bothriocephalosis of cyprinids

The purpose of the research is to develop and test new dosage forms against bothriocephalosis of cyprinids.Materials and methods. The study was performed in the experimental therapy laboratory of the VNIIP – FSC VIEV, and on a cage fish farm of Cherepetsky Rybkhoz JSC (Suvorov, Tula Region). A formulation was developed for two micronized dosage forms of albendazole and praziquantel to prevent and treat cestodosis in fish, namely, micronized albendazole and micronized praziquantel. For experiments to test micronized dosage forms of the drugs against bothriocephalosis of cyprinids, medicated feeds were developed using a special technology with added hot water and beet molasses. Each medicated feed contained 2% of the praziquantel- and albendazole-based dosage form. To determine the infection of the fish with cestodes, carp yearlings were studied at Cherepetsky Rybkhoz JSC. Clinical examination and pathoanatomical dissection of the fish were conducted selectively using a common method, after which the prevalence and intensity of the Bothriocephalus sp. infection were determined in fish. The medicated feed was given at the rate of 5% of fish weight in the trays, and put into the feeders installed at the bottom of the trays. The first group of fish received the medicated food with micronized albendazole, and the second, with micronized praziquantel. The doses were 25 and 30 mg/kg for the active substance, respectively. The effectiveness of experimental batches of the medicated feeds with praziquantel and albendazole dosage forms was recorded by results of the helminthological dissection of all experimental and control fish on day 4 of the therapeutic feeding.Results and discussion. Preliminary tests of the micronized albendazole and praziquantel dosage forms in the medicated feeds showed a 58.3% extense-effectiveness with a 61.9% intense-effectiveness, and a 75.0% extense-effectiveness with a 88.1% intense-effectiveness when applied once at a dose of 5% of fish weight (doses of 25 and 30 mg/kg for the AS, respectively).