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  • Title: The effectiveness of benzimidazole derivatives for the treatment and prevention of histomonosis (blackhead) in turkeys.
    Author: Hegngi FN, Doerr J, Cummings TS, Schwartz RD, Saunders G, Zajac A, Larsen CT, Pierson FW.
    Journal: Vet Parasitol; 1999 Feb 01; 81(1):29-37. PubMed ID: 9950326.
    Abstract:
    The benzimidazole derivatives, albendazole and fenbendazole were evaluated for their effectiveness in the treatment and prevention of histomonosis (blackhead) in turkeys. Histomonosis was produced in 5 week-old birds by placing them on broiler breeder litter known to be contaminated with Heterakis gallinae ova and the protozoan Histomonas meleagridis. In the first trial, at the onset of confirmed clinical disease, birds were treated orally with metronidazole, a compound known to be effective against Histomonas. Those receiving metronidazole had significantly greater mean body weight gains during the treatment period and the 2 weeks following treatment than untreated controls. Treated birds also had significantly lower caecal and liver lesion scores. These findings served to validate the method of disease reproduction and establish its suitability for testing the benzimidazoles. Similar trials were conducted to determine the therapeutic value of albendazole at 100.0 mg/kg of body weight and fenbendazole at 10.0 mg/kg body weight, administered orally twice a day for 5 consecutive days. Under these conditions, both drugs were found to be ineffective as treatments. A final trial was conducted to assess the prophylactic value of albendazole and fenbendazole administration. At the time of placement on contaminated litter, birds were medicated as previously described with the exception that treatment was continued for 14 consecutive days, the approximate incubation period for histomonosis. The trial was terminated on the 16th day. In the case of both albendazole and fenbendazole, treatment was associated with a significant increase in mean body weight gain and lower caecal and liver lesion scores. It is believed that the observed prophylactic effect may be attributed to the destruction of the transport vector e.g., Heterakis larvae, or to direct killing of the flagellated form of Histomonas which is normally found in the caecal lumen and is considered to be more sensitive to chemotherapeutic agents than the amoeboid form found in tissues.
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