Oxidative stress in spp. infected donkeys treated with piperazine citrate versus doramectin.

Background: Parasitic infection is one of the main problems in equidae, particularly donkeys.

Aim: This study evaluated the oxidative stress in donkeys infected with spp by determining the correlation between antioxidants levels; malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and the severity of parasitic infection. It also compared the therapeutic efficacy of piperazine citrate as an oral anthelmintic drug and Doramectin as an injectable one.

Methods: The study was conducted on 40 donkeys naturally infected with spp. These donkeys were divided into two groups (20 donkeys each) according to treatment; One group was treated with piperazine citrate (PTG) and the other with doramectin (DTG). Thorough clinical examination, hematological, biochemical, and parasitological assays were performed before (Day 0) and after treatment (Days 7, 14, 21, and 28). All data were statistically analyzed by independent-sample -test or paired -test.

Results: In both groups, mean values of MDA were significantly reduced, while those of TAC were significantly elevated after treatment on days 7, 14, 21, and 28. These significant changes were reported after treatment between PTG and DTG in favor of DTG. Serum concentrations of MDA were significantly reduced, while those of TAC were significantly elevated for DTG treatment group when their values were compared with those of PTG either on days 7, 14, 21, or 28. Significant correlations were reported in PTG and DTG. Negative significant correlations were reported between fecal egg count (FEC) and each of whole blood picture indices (RBCS, Hb, and PCV), serum TAC and faecal egg count reduction percentage FECR%. A positive correlation was seen between FEC and MDA. MDA exhibited a negative correlation with both blood picture and TAC; hence, TAC was positively correlated with these blood picture indices in both PTG and DTG. In PTG, anthelmintic resistance () was present on days 7 and 14, while it was suspected () at day 21 then it was absent () at day 28. In DTG, anthelmintic resistance was suspected () on day 7, then it became absent () on days 14, 21, and 28 post therapy.

Conclusion: The immunological status of the infected donkeys had greatly improved after treatment. The therapeutic efficacy of injectable doramectin was more efficient than that of oral piperazine citrate in spp. infected donkeys.