Journal of Animal Research: v.5 n.2, p. 321-324. June 2015

DOI Number: 10.5958/2277-940X.2015.00055.8

Different Treatment Regimen for Eradication of Pinworm ( Syphacia obvelata)

Infection in Mice Colony

Saurabh Chawla* 1 , Sarita Jena 2 and Birendra Prusty 2

1 Animal Facility, National Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhubaneswar, INDIA

2 Animal Facility, Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar, INDIA

*Corresponding author: S Chawla; Email: drchawlasaurabh@gmail.com

Received: 15 October, 2014

Accepted: 02 June, 2015

ABSTRACT

Syphacia obvelata infection was diagnosed in mice during routine health monitoring of rodent colony at Animal Facility, ILS-

NISER, Bhubaneswar. Entire mice colony was treated with fenbendazole mixed in drinking water @70 mg / liter in combination

with topical spray of injectable 0.1 % ivermectin solution to arrest the disease. At the same time mice were isolated and grouped

(n=18) to compare other treatment regimens using ivermectin (oral & spray) and fenbendazole (oral) and chalk out an effective

therapeutic strategy for large rodent colonies. Use of cocktail of oral fenbendazole and 0.1 % ivermectin spray was able to

eradicate pinworm infection in mice colony but study with individual use of fenbendazole in drinking water was not able to treat

the infection in group. Oral use of ivermectin was able to treat pin worm infection in mice but is not recommended for treatment

due to its deleterious effects. Use of 0.1% ivermectin as spray alone resulted in complete eradication of Syphacia obvelata hence

suggested to be safe and effective method for pin worm eradication in large rodent colonies.

Keywords: Syphacia obvelata , mice, fenbendazole, ivermectin

Pin worm infestation is routinely reported in various

feed along with stringent environmental sanitation.

modern rodent housing facilities and even under strict

Most widely and commonly used anthelminthics include

bio exclusion procedures (Effler et al., 2008). Among the

ivermectin and fenbendazole (Skopets et al., 1996). Oral

several species Syphacia obvelata , Aspicularis tertraptera

ivermectin though effective may interfere with research

and Syphacia muris are the most common pin worm

and also affect the breeding performance of mice (Jackson

detected in mice and rats ( Pritchett and Johnston, 2002 ).

et al., 1998, Lankas et al., 1997, Skopets et al., 1996).

These species may present alone or detected concurrently

However topical administration is regarded as a safer

( Wightman et al., 1978; Kellogg and Wagner, 1982 ).

choice (Sueta et al., 2002). Another popular drug used

Though the pinworms do not cause life threatening diseases

is fenbendazole which has a wide safety margin and no

but have several research implications ( Mohn and Philipp,

documented inference with research is reported. It is

1977; Sato et al., 1995; Agersborg et al., 2001) .

generally administered with feed for therapeutic as well

The clinical signs f or the pinworm infection are rare. The

as prophylactic measures against pin worm (Barron et al.,

infection is diagnosed commonly by perianal tape test

2000; Pritchett and Johnston; 2002; Sueta et al., 2002).

method. The anal swabbing and microscopic examination

Pinworm outbreak was diagnosed in mice at ILS-NISER

of caecal and colonic contents provide more accurate

animal facility during routine health monitoring of rodent

diagnosis (Klement et al., 1996; Goncalves et al., 1998).

colony by perianal tape test method. Similar outbreak was

Treatment

regimen

includes

administration

of

earlier detected in the same facility which was managed

anthelminthic drug topically or in drinking water and

by using oral ivermectin with drinking water. However