Abstract
Recent estimates suggest that liver condemnation due to liver fluke in Ethiopia causes an annual economic loss of about 48.4 million Ethiopian birr. For approximately ten decades, the treatment of fasciolosis has relied solely on triclabendazole (TCBZ). In many clinical practices, combined tetramisole with Oxyclozanide and albendazole drugs have been used as treatment options for ovine fasciolosis. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the effectiveness of triclabendazole (TCBZ), combined tetramisole with Oxyclozanide (TETRA), and albendazole (ALBE) for the treatment of ovine fasciolosis and their effects on biochemical parameters. In this study, a field experimental trial was carried out in 75 purposively selected forty-five naturally Fasciola-infected sheep from May to November 2023 in the West Dembiya district, Ethiopia. The infected animals were randomly divided into three Groups: Group I received triclabendazole, Group II received combined tetramisole with Oxyclozanide, Group III received albendazole, and the triclabendazole treatment Group was considered the positive control Group. Fecal and serum samples were collected on days 0 (before treatment) and 7, 14, and 21 after treatment. A fecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) and biochemical analysis were carried out. Descriptive statistics and repeated-measures ANOVA were used to analyze the data. The current study revealed that TCBZ was the most effective drug, with a FECRT of 97.8%, followed by TETRA (96.6%) and ALBE (84% reduction in the mean fecal egg count). The results also indicated that after treatment, the concentrations of the biochemical parameters significantly changed (P < 0.05), particularly after 21 days of treatment. In all the Groups, treatment and time had significant effects on the concentrations of the biochemical parameters and eggs per gram count (EPG). In terms of the EPG, albendazole substantially differed from combined tetramisole with Oxyclozanidee and triclabendazole (p < 0.05), whereas combined tetramisole with Oxyclozanide and triclabendazole did not (p > 0.05). The study also revealed that the observed clinical presentation improved after treatment. In conclusion, triclabendazole and combined tetramisole with Oxyclozanide strongly affected ovine fasciolosis. If the accessibility of triclabendazole is limited on the market, the use of the 2nd promising drug (combined tetramisole with Oxyclozanide) is mandatory. Biochemical parameters are the most promising biomarkers for liver damage and are used to select the most effective anthelmintic medicines for the treatment of ovine fasciolosis.