Oxfendazole is a broad spectrum

benzimidazole Benzimidazole is a heterocyclic aromatic organic compound. This bicyclic compound may be viewed as fused rings of the aromatic compounds benzene and imidazole. It is a colorless solid. Preparation Benzimidazole is produced by condensation of o- ...

anthelmintic Anthelmintics or antihelminthics are a group of antiparasitic drugs that expel parasitic worms (helminths) and other internal parasites from the body by either stunning or killing them and without causing significant damage to the host. They may ...

. Its main use is for protecting livestock against

roundworm The nematodes ( or grc-gre, Νηματώδη; la, Nematoda) or roundworms constitute the phylum Nematoda (also called Nemathelminthes), with plant-parasitic nematodes also known as eelworms. They are a diverse animal phylum inhabiting a broa ...

, strongyles and

pinworm Pinworm infection (threadworm infection in the UK), also known as enterobiasis, is a human parasitic disease caused by the pinworm. The most common symptom is itching in the anal area. The period of time from swallowing eggs to the appearance ...

s. Oxfendazole is the

sulfoxide In organic chemistry, a sulfoxide, also called a sulphoxide, is an organosulfur compound containing a sulfinyl () functional group attached to two carbon atoms. It is a polar functional group. Sulfoxides are oxidized derivatives of sulfides. ...

metabolite In biochemistry, a metabolite is an intermediate or end product of metabolism. The term is usually used for small molecules. Metabolites have various functions, including fuel, structure, signaling, stimulatory and inhibitory effects on enzymes, c ...

fenbendazole Fenbendazole is a broad spectrum benzimidazole anthelmintic used against gastrointestinal parasites including: giardia, roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, the tapeworm genus '' Taenia'' (but not effective against '' Dipylidium caninum'', a common ...

. Oxfendazole is an anthelmintic (wormer) compound used in veterinary practice. It comes under the chemical class of the benzimidazoles. This drug is barely used in horses, goats, sheep, and cattle. It is very scarcely applied on dogs and cats. The drug for livestock is majorly available in the form of pills, tablets, drenches, bolus, etc. They are meant for oral consumption. Several drenches are allowed for intraruminal injection in some of the countries. Few countries also prefer injectables and pour-ons. For pet dogs, the drug is available in the form of drenches.

Efficacy

Both oxfendazole and fenbendazole are efficacious against gastrointestinal lungworms and roundworms of livestock, adults, and L4-larvae of the significant species for example, of the genera ''

Bunostomum ''Bunostomum'' is a genus of nematodes of the small intestine of ruminants and camelids. Important species include: ''B. phlebotomum'' in calves and ''B. trigonocephalum'' in lambs. The worms are stout and measure in length. Young animals are mo ...

'', '' Haemonchus'', ''

Ostertagia ''Ostertagia'' is a genus of nematodes belonging to the family Trichostrongylidae. The genus has cosmopolitan distribution. Species: *'' Ostertagia antipini'' *'' Ostertagia arctica'' *'' Ostertagia buriatica'' *'' Ostertagia dahurica'' ...

'', ''

Oesophagostomum ''Oesophagostomum'' is a genus of parasitic nematodes (roundworms) of the family Strongylidae. These worms occur in Africa, Brazil, China, Indonesia and the Philippines. The majority of human infection with ''Oesophagostomum'' is localized to n ...

'', ''

Nematodirus Trichostrongyloidea is a superfamily of nematodes under the order Strongylida. Includes genera such as '' Ostertagia'', '' Teladorsagia'', ''Trichostrongylus'', '' Haemonchus'', '' Cooperia'', '' Nematodirus'', ''Dictyocaulus ''Dictyocaul ...

'', ''

Teladorsagia ''Teladorsagia'' is a genus of nematodes belonging to the family Trichostrongylidae. The genus has cosmopolitan distribution In biogeography, cosmopolitan distribution is the term for the range of a taxon that extends across all or most of ...

'', '' Cooperia'', ''

Trichostrongylus ''Trichostrongylus'' species are nematodes (round worms), which are ubiquitous among herbivores worldwide, including cattle, sheep, donkeys, goats, deer, and rabbits.Garcia LS, editor. Diagnostic Medical Parasitology. 5 ed. Washington, DC: ASM Pr ...

'', ''

Dictyocaulus ''Dictyocaulus'' is a genus of nematode parasites of the bronchial tree of horses, sheep, goats, deer, and cattle. ''Dictyocaulus arnfieldi'' is the lungworm of horses, and ''Dictyocaulus viviparus'' is the lungworm affecting ruminants. ''Dic ...

'', ''

Trichuris ''Trichuris'', often referred to as whipworms (which typically refers to ''T. trichiura'' only in medicine, and to any other species in veterinary medicine), is a genus of parasitic worms from the roundworm family Trichuridae, which are helmint ...

'', etc., including against arrested larvae of some of the species. They are even highly efficient against majority of the livestock tapeworms. This drug works effectively against the main parasitic roundworms and tapeworms of dogs and cats. The drug offers a small residual effect in ruminants unless and otherwise it is delivered by using a slow-release device. This essentially means that on a single administration it will help in killing the parasites which are present in the host during the time of treatment and also prevent against re-infestations for some more days but not weeks or months. The residual effect is comparatively shorter in non-ruminants. The drug is non-effective against flukes and external parasites at therapeutic dose.

References

{{Anthelmintics Anthelmintics Sulfoxides Benzimidazoles Carbamates