This study was conducted to determine the efficacy of anthelmintics against gastrointestinal parasitic infestation in periparturient dairy cows and its effect on milk yield and quality. Sixty pregnant cows of 1st & 2nd parity were divided into four groups. The efficacy of anthelmintic treatment was evaluated by counting faecal egg per gram (EPG) compared with pre-treatment values. The milk yield of each cow was recorded in pre and post treatment lactations. Cows of group A were treated with Nitroxynil 10 mg/kg body weight subcutaneously 30 days before parturition, group B were treated with combination of triclabendazole and levamisole 19.5 mg/kg body weight orally at calving and group C treated with Endex® at calving and 42 days after. The mean change in EPG 14 days after treatment was significantly higher (p<0.05) in treated (79.1%) cows than control. Average milk yield of group C (2.8 ± 0.8) was significantly higher (p<0.01) than group A (2.6 ± 0.7). Similarly, the average milk yield in all the treated cows was significantly (p<0.01) higher in treated lactation (2.5 ± 0.7) than in the previous lactation (2.2 ± 0.7). The average milk yield in all treated cows was significantly (p<0.01) higher than the control cows. Although, milk yields were higher in second parity than the first, there was no significant difference (p>0.05). The milk protein percentage was significantly higher (p<0.05) in treated group than the control group. Therefore, it may be concluded that periparturient anthelmintic treatment effectively reduced the gastrointestinal parasitic load and improved milk yield.

The objective of this study was to know the in vitro effects of supplemental anthelmintic plant extracts on the inhibition of protozoa for reducing methane production in the rumen. A fistulated Holstein cow was used as a donor of rumen fluid. The plant extracts (Lonicera japonica, Zanthoxylum piperitum, Pyrethrum, Torreya nucifera, Ruta graveolens) known to have anthelmintic effect were added to the in vitro fermentation bottles containing the rumen fluid and medium. The rumen protozoal population was depressed by the addition of Pyrethrum, Torreya nucifera and Ruta graveolens. The methane production was also significantly (p<0.05)reduced by addition of Pyrethrum (2.20 ml/g DM), Torreya nucifera (2.36 ml/g DM) and Ruta graveolens (2.20 ml/g DM). The microbial growth in the treatments of Ruta graveolens or anthoxylum piperitum was the greatest after 12 h and 24 h incubations, respectively. The results of this study indicated that anthelmintic plant extracts appeared to reduce methane production by inhibition of ruminal protozoa related with the methanogens living endosymbiotic in protozoal cells.

A liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) multi-residue method for simultaneous quantification and identification of 37 anthelmintic veterinary drug residues (including benzimidazoles, macrocyclic lactones, and flukicides, levamisole, pyrantel and niclosamide) in milk has been developed and validated. For sample preparation, we used a simple modification of the QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe) method, which was initially developed for analysis of pesticide residues. Anthelmintic residues were extracted into acetonitrile:methanol (9:1, v/v) using sodium chloride to induce liquid-liquid partitioning followed by dispersive solid phase extraction for cleanup. The extract was concentrated into dimethyl sulphoxide, which was used as a keeper to ensure that analytes remain in solution. Using rapid polarity switching in electrospray ionization, a single injection was capable of detecting both positively and negatively charged ions within a 15 min run time. The Limit of detection (LOD) and the Limit of quantification (LOQ) method ranged from 0.1 ng/g to 4.4 ng/g and from 0.3 ng/g to 14.6 ng/g, respectively. Validation of the developed method was based on international guidelines. Average recoveries ranged from 70% to 120%, except for 54.7% at 0.5× MRL (rafoxanide) and 69.0% at 0.5× MRL (closantel). The coefficient of variation for the described method was less than 15% over the range of concentrations studied. The result of the method was verified successfully by participation in a proficiency study for analysis of anthelmintic drugs.