Comparative and Veterinary Pharmacology

Table 1

Anthelmintic agents: spectrum of activity and mode of action

Class

Members

a

Species

Deliveryroute

Spectrum of activity Mode of action

Benzimidazoles

ThiabendazoleFenbendazoleOxfendazoleFlubendazoleAlbendazoleMebendazoleTriclabendazole

b

Cattle, sheep, goats,

pigs, poultry,cats, dogs,horses

Oral

GI nematodes,

Lungworm,Liver fluke

c,

Cestodes

c

Inhibition of microtubule

polymerisation, leading to disordersof intracellular homeostasis andstarvation of the nematodes

Imidazothiazoles/

Tetrahydropyrimidines

Levamisole,Morantel,Pyrantel

Cattle, sheep, goats,

pigs, cats, dogs,horses

Oral, SC,

IM,Topical

GI nematodes,

Cestodes

c,

Lungworm

c,

Heartworm

c

Mimicking action of acetylcholine at

the nicotinic receptors (nAchR) ofthe post-synaptic membrane,causing change in permeability andspastic paralysis of the worms

Macrocyclic Lactones

IvermectinAbamectinDoramectinSelamectinMoxidectinEprinomectinMilbemycin

Cattle, sheep, goats,

pigs, cats, dogs,Horses,

Oral, SC,

Topical

GI nematodes,

Lungworm,Heartworm

Opening of ligand-gated chloride

channels, leading to flaccidparalysis of the nematodes

Cyclic depsipeptides

Emodepside

Cats

Topical

GI nematodes

Binding to latrophilin-like receptors,

causing Ca

2+

influx and inhibition

of pharyngeal pumping, leading toparalysis

Amino acetonitrile

derivatives (AADs)

Monepantel

Sheep

Oral

GI nematodes

Activation of signalling via nematode-

specific DEG-3 subtype nicotinicacetylcholine receptors (nAChR)(distinct from levamisole targetreceptors), causinghypercontraction of body wallmuscles and paralysis

(continued

)

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