An evaluation of marketed anthelmintic products and user information in central and north rift regions of Kenya

Abstract

A survey of different types of marketed anthelmintic brands in the main livestock keeping areas in the central and north rift regions of Kenya was carried out in April 2011. The aim of this survey was to obtain baseline data on the different brands of anthelmintics, type of advice given to farmers as well as to sample some products for analyses of active ingredients. All the three broad-spectrum anthelmintic classes were on sale in 90 drug outlets visited. Majority of the outlets were agro-vets shops, although the anthelmintics were also sold in pharmacies and animal feed stores. Out of a total of 789 anthelmintic samples recorded, 274 (34.7%) were benzimidazoles, 241 (30.5%) were levamisoles whiles 6 were avermectins (0.8%). A total of eight were in combinations; levamisole/oxyclosanode (seven, 13%) and fenbendazole/rafoxanide (one, 1.8%). The information given to farmers related to dosage, basis of dosage, withdrawal periods for milk and meat, time of the day to administer the drugs and rotation of different classes of anthelmintics. In a majority of cases, the information given was found to be accurate except that some were not informed on the time of the day to deworm, frequency, rotation of different classes and use of other practices to reduce over reliance on anthelmintics. Information from this survey and results of drug assays will form a basis for formulating strategies to manage anthelmintic resistance in different parts of the country