Vol. 12, Special Issue 8 (2023)

Materials and methods: For this study out of 24/42 positive pups irrespective of age, sex and breeds were randomly selected. Total 30 pups divided into 5 groups of 6 puppies as: Group 1: Healthy control, Group 2: Untreated control, Group 3: Nemocid (Pyrantel pamoate) suspension @50 mg/kg bw/d orally as single dose, Group 4: Albomar (Albendazole) suspension @50 mg/kg bw/d for 3 days orally and, Group 5: Alfanil tablet (combination of Praziquantel, Pyrantel embonate and Oxantel embonate) @1 tab/10 kg bw/d orally as single dose. Animals were under observation for 9-months from treatment dosing and tests for clinical, haematological, biochemical and faecal examinations.

Results: Overall incidence of Toxocara canis infection in and around Kolkata city was 38.18%, with higher incidence during the monsoon (64.29%), sex-wise in males (66.67%), incidence-wise in age group 1-3 months, breed-wise in non-descript puppies (61.90%), and a decrease of haematological and biochemical parameters was observed in the pre-treatment infected pups. All three anthelmintics were found effective against the Toxocara spp. infection in the pups.

Conclusion: Considering the best efficacy, the combination of Praziquantel, Pyrantel embonate and Oxantel embonate at a dose rate of 1 tab/10 kg b.wt. as single dose can suitably be recommended for treatment of toxocariosis in pups.