ABSTRACT
This chapter summarises the principal classes of modern broad-spectrum drugs which currently are available to control nematodes in animals and the attributes of each class, as well as briefly overviewing some narrow-spectrum drugs. Despite a very effective arsenal of nematicidal drugs, gaps still exist in our ability to deal with important nematodes, particularly filarial species. This is further complicated by the fact that resistance to the various classes of available drugs threatens control on several fronts. All references to individual drugs will use generic or non-proprietary names. A number of excellent publications are available which provide more depth on anthelmintics than is possible in this chapter (e.g. Bard, 1972; Gibson, 1975; Anonymous, 1983; Arundel, 1983; James and Gilles, 1985; Vanden Bossche, Thienpont and Janssens, 1985; Biehl, 1986; Campbell, 1986; Campbell and Rew, 1986; Coles, 1986; Prichard, 1986; Wescott, 1986; Gustafsson, Beerman and Aden Abdi, 1987; Raether, 1988; Campbell, 1989; Anonymous, 1990; Campbell, 1990; Cook, 1990; Lacey, 1990; McKellar and Scott, 1990; Courtney and Sundlof, 1991; Conder and Campbell, 1995). Drugs such as phenothiazine, disophenol, rafoxanide, the chlorinated hydrocarbons (n-butyl chloride, tetrachlorethylene), ethanolamines (bephenium, methridine), cyanine dyes (pyrvinium, dithiazanine), hygromycin B, santonin, and kainic acid have largely been replaced by safer anthelmintics with a broader spectrum of activity; hence, they have little but historical value and will not be detailed herein. No attempt will be made herein to discuss compounds used to control nematodes of plants.
