Evaluation of microencapsulated mixture of anethole and carvone do control parasites of naturally infested lambs

Abstract

Anti-helminths have shown reduced efficiency due to the presence of multi-resistant helminth strains. Essential oils are natural compounds with promising anthelmintic potential. Anethole (10%) and carvone (10%) were microencapsulated in a solid matrix in order to facilitate its administration. Our research was experimental, case-control, longitudinal, with a sample of 34 lambs of the new breed, without previous parasitic infestation. The study sample was divided into two treatments: Control (CTL) = animals received basal feed and treatment Essential oils (OE) = animals received OE at the dose 100 mg / kg PV / day mixed to the feed throughout the period (6 months) and were kept separated by treatment in a collective per. Weight, parasitic infestation (FEC) and complete hemogram were evaluated. In the first 3 months, CTL and OE treatments remained free of parasites. During this period, both treatments presented similar weight gain (approximate gain of 1.15 kg every 15 days) and absence of parasitic infestation. From the 4th to the 6th month, the animals were taken to the pasture on intercalary days to acquire natural infestation and, thus, to evaluate the possible preventive and curative action of OE. Both treatments had lower weight gain (approximate gain of 0.5 kg every 15 days) due to infestation, which was similar between treatments: mean final FEC of CTL = 2859 and EO = 3673 (P> 0.05) ; As well as the parameters of the hemogram (P> 0.05). Coprocultures of CTL and OE presented similar results demonstrating infestation by about 90% of Haemonchus spp. About 5% Trichostrongylus spp. We conclude that the administration of microencapsulated OE was not effective for the prevention and treatment of parasitic infestation of sheep.