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Effect of antihelmenthic therapy on live weight gain65the mean EPG counts of 3783 ± 1106.96; 404.16 ± albendazole (Rs.174) and morantel citrate (Rs. 138)127.54 and 212.5 ± 55.01 for strongyle species, S. treated groups. On the other hand, the net profitpapillosus and Trichuris spp., respectively. The recorded in infected untreated control group wasexperimental animals were equally divided into four Rs. 94 in comparison with the treated groups (Table I).groups (Gr.), where, Gr.-I served as infected, untreatedcontrol group, Gr.-II animals were treated withDISCUSSIONtetramisole hydrochloride (Nilverm soluble powder, GI nematode infection is recognized as a major-1M/S ICI India Ltd., Kolkata) @ 15 mg kg body constraint to small ruminant production worldwide. Itweight (b.w.) and Gr.-III animals with morantel citrate is well known to cause huge economic losses due to(Banminth Tab., M/S Pfizer Ltd., Ahmedabad) @ 5.94 mortality incidental to the severe parasitism and high-1mg kg b.w. The animals in Gr.-IV were drenched with morbidity, reduction and/or spoilage of wool, meatalbendazole (Albomar suspension, M/S Glaxo India and milk production in chronic cases (Chowdhury,-1Ltd., Mumbai) @ 7.5 mg kg b.w. The experimental 1994). The continued presence of GI nematodes isgoats were denied access to water and feed for responsible for anorexia, reduced feed intake,approximately 18 h, prior to recording their live alterations in protein metabolism, low levels ofweight (weekly) using a weigh-bridge. The net profit minerals, depressed activity of some intestinalin terms of rupees (Rs.) was calculated taking into enzymes and diarrhoea (Soulsby, 1982). Theaccount the final difference in body weight of the parasitism is also associated with loss of blood andexperimental goats before and after chemotherapy, plasma proteins into the GI tract (Jayraw and Raote,cost of medication including cost of drug (tetramisole 2004a) thereby lowering the weight gain in untreatedhydrochloride - Rs. 10, morantel citrate - Rs. 29 and control group. Reduced skeletal growth brought aboutalbendazole - Rs. 24) and labour cost (Rs. 60 per head by mineral deficiency affects growth rate, becausefor one day), except for the animals belonging to Gr.-I, skeletal size ultimately determines the capacity ofwhich served as infected untreated control and were growing animal to accumulate muscle (Sykes et al.,not treated with any anthelmintic. The average rate of 1977). In addition, reduced levels of amino acid-1chevon was considered as Rs. 120 kg at Parbhani incorporation in muscle protein results in reduceddistrict of Maharashtra. The data obtained were weight gains (Soulsby,1982). Reduced weight gain inanalysed following standard statistical procedures GI nematode-infected goats was also reported by(Snedecor and Cochran, 1994).Howlader et al. (1997) and Githigia et al. (2001). TheRESULTShigher weight gain recorded in tetramisole treatedanimals is attributable to its higher efficacy againstAnimals were weighed at weekly intervals and their Trichuris spp. and strongyle species when comparedlive weight recorded for a period of 28 days. The mean to efficacy of albendazole and morantel citrate againstEPG counts recorded at 28 days post-treatment were these parasites (Jayraw and Raote, 2004b). Thefound to be 345.84 ± 290.47, 4.165 ± 4.165 and 154.16 present finding is in agreement with Sakhawat et al.± 37.50 for strongyle species, S. papillosus and (1997), who also observed that levamisole treatedTrichuris spp., respectively. A maximum of 9% (mean sheep gained more weight than albendazole and1.97 kg) live weight gain was recorded in tetramisole morantel treated animals. The mean weight gain ofhydrochloride treated animals (Gr.-II) followed by 1.97 kg recorded in the present study corroborates well8.78% enhancement (mean 1.82 kg) in experimental with the findings of Sathianesan and Peter (1972), whogoats belonging to albendazole treated group (Gr.-IV). recorded 1.7 kg weight gain in tetramisole treatedThe morantel citrate treated group (Gr.-III) exhibited goats over 30 days of observation. The 8.78% weight7.44% weight gain (mean 1.56 kg). The lowest weight gain observed in albendazole-treated animals is ingain of 3.73% (mean 0.79 kg) was evident in animals general agreement with Faizal et al. (1999) andof infected untreated group (Gr.-I). The mean daily Githigia et al. (2001). Rajangam and Balchandranweight gain recorded is presented in the descending (1989) earlier reported a mean weight gain of 38.3 g-1 -1-1order as 70 g day in animals of Gr.-II, 65 g day in Gr.- day in morantel citrate treated goats.-1 -1IV, 55 g day in Gr.-III and 28 g day in animals of Gr.- Correspondingly, a mean daily weight gain of 55 g-1I. The net profit obtained at the end of experimental day in morantel treated group was also evident in thestudy was higher (Rs. 206) in tetramisole present study. Das et al. (2004) recorded the per headhydrochloride treated group, when compared with loss of Rs. 351 and 377 in 3-6 and 6-12 months old GI