Ann. Méd. Vét., 2012, 156 (1), pp 66-74 Monepantel, a new anthelminthic active against gastro-intestinal nematodes in
sheepHAFSI F., CHINA B., GHALMI FAbstract :
Helminths are parasitic worms
affecting animals and causing
human disease to be severe
and causing economic losses
in livestock operations including
in ruminants. The mode of the
most effective control is the use
of drugs anthelmintics. Until
recently, three classes of anthelmintic
drugs existed namely benzimidazoles,
the imidothiazoles
and macrocyclic lactones. The
last drug on the market was the
ivermectin in 1981. Unfortunately,
the intensive use of these molecules
has led to the emergence
of resistance among helminths.
Some strains are even multiresistants
mainly in small ruminants.
In practice, this poor efficiency led
to therapeutic failures observed
by vets and farmers Therefore,
if nothing is done, the presence
of multiresitant strains can be a
source of economical losses for
farmers. The emergence of multidrug-
resistant strains has led to
the development of new molecules
of amino-acetonitrile derivatives.
Among these, the AAD
1566 also called monepantel is
the most promising molecule. It
is active orally (25 mg/kg) against fourth larval stage and adults of
the major ovine gastrointestinal
nematodes. Its efficiency was
also showed on nematode strains
resisting to another antihelmintics
drugs. Moreover, no particular
side effects was observed. The
monepantel target is the nicotinic
acethylcholine receptor of the
subfamily DEG-3. This family of
receptor is specific nematodes
and explains the absence of toxicity
in the host. Based on these
results, the monepantel was
recently marketed in Europe. This
new molecule opens new hopes
in the treatment of diseases caused
by parasitic worms in small
ruminants. Get the PDF Contact person : fredjimi54@yahoo.fr |