This study was conducted to work out the prevalence of gastrodiscus infection in Lahore area and to check the comparative efficacy of one patent (Albandazole) and two Herbal Drugs i.e. Melia Azadarch Linn (Neem) and Nigella Sativa (Kalonji) against Gastrodiscus infection in Horses and its effect on various blood components including Hb, TLC, and DLC the purpose of this experiment was tomention extensive Pharmacological Experimentation on indigenous drug which result in the discovery of some potent Anthelmintic Drugs which would be a break through in limiting Gastrodiscus infection in horses. Furthermore, it could contribute to the improvement of our economy by making an industrial use of these resources and by saving foreign exchange via exporting these medicines abroad. In addition to these, studies were expected to contribute to the rationalization of Eastern / Unani system of Medicine, practiced by HKIMS and SIANAS.

To accomplish the study six hundred faecal samples of horses were collected and coprologically examined by fresh smear method to determine 40 naturally infected horses by Gastrodiscus infection.

The 40 infected animals were divided into four groups i.e. group A, group B, group C, and group D comprising 10 animals. Each groups A, B and C were treated with Albandazole, Melia Azadarch Linn (Neem) and Kalonji, respectively were as group D was control and remain untreated. The prevalence of Gastrodiscus infection at Lahore areas was found to be 6.6%.

The Egg per gram (EPG) counts was estimated by using Macmaster technique at zero day (pre-medication), 3rd day, 7th day and 10th day (post-medication). Groups A, B and C were treated with Albandazole, Neem and Kalonji seeds dose rate of 10ml/10kg body weight, 500 mg/kg body weight and 1gm/kg body weight, respectively.

After medication at 3rd, 7th and 10th day EPG count was measured. It was observed that at 3rd day, Albandazole Neem and Kalonji showed the efficacy 50%, 4769% and 9.09% respectively.

At 7th day, the efficacy of albandazole neem and kalonji was found to be 66.66%, 53.84%, 20% respectively.

At 10th day, the efficacy of albandazole Neem and Kalonji was found to be 95%, 60% and 27.27, respectively.

The average efficacy of Albandazole Neem and Kalonji was found to be 70.5%, 53.6% and 18.78%, respectively.

Hence, Albandazole, and Neem showed better results as compared to Kalonji. It was concluded that Albandazole and Neem were safe against Gastrodiscus in Horses.

HAEMATOLOGY

In the present study forty blood samples from naturally infected horses with different intensities of infection were examined for haematological studies to know the changes in the blood picture due to Gastrodiscus. The blood samples were collected premedication i.e. on Zero day and then on 3rd, 7th and 10th day post-medication.

A marked decrease in haemoglobin was observed after the study of infected animals on Zero day. The normal haemoglobin value was 10.5 to 15.5 g/dl. This value became near to normal on 7th day post-medication and went on increasing upto 10th day as the ova count in the faeces was decreasing.

The study regarding the total leukocytic count concluded a mild increase values of TLC, but after treatment these values decrease to normal level as the ova count in the faeces was decreasing.

The haematological finding of the present study are in complete accordance with the results of Chaudhry et al., (1991) and Peal et al. (1989). The reported that there was decrease in hemoglobin values of infected animals as compared to healthy animals. It is tempting to speculate that the decrease in haematological values may be due to the blood sucking habit of the parasite.