EFFICACY OF FENBENDAZOLE AND PRAZIQUANTEL-EMODEPSIDE AGAINST INFECTION OF OXYURID EGGS IN GREEN IGUANA (Iguana iguana)

The green iguana (Iguana iguana) is among the numerous lizards commonly kept as pets. Helminth parasites have become a potential concern to captive lizards in recent years, and frequent deworming is required to improve iguana health. This study evaluated the effect of the antihelmintic therapy fenbendazole and praziquantel + emodepside combination on the degree of Oxyuris spp. infection in Iguana iguana. The efficacy of the treatments was determined by comparing fecal egg counts (FECRT) in the treated and control groups. The 27 infected Iguana iguana were randomly separated into three equal groups. Nine diseased iguanas received one of the following treatments: placebo (P0 Control) and fenbendazole at a dose of 25mg/kg body weight (BW) orally for three days (P1). Praziquantel + emodepside antihelmintic will be administered topically (spot-on) at a dose of 1.12 ml/kg body weight (BW) (P2). The efficacy of the therapies was evaluated on the 30th day after treatment. A feces inspection was carried out utilizing the floating and McMaster methods. The average FECRT findings revealed that fenbendazole was 100% effective at 25mg/kg body weight (BW). Still, praziquantel + emodepside combined at 1.12ml/kg body weight (BW) was 90% effective in Iguana iguana infected with Oxyuris spp. This study found that fenbendazole was a better and more effective dewormer than praziquantel+ + emodepside in green iguana against Oxyuris spp.