Description
EQUISTAR® is an oral nematicide-tanicide paste for equines , based on ivermectin, praziquantel and pyrantel pamoate. Praziquantel is the most widely used anticestodic at present. It combines three antiparasitics with recognized therapeutic efficacy.
Ivermectin:
- It acts by potentiating the neuronal inhibitory action of GABA on the central nervous system of nematodes.
- It prevents the transmission of nerve stimuli, causing flaccid paralysis of the parasites.
Praziquantel:
- It is a taenicide that inhibits enzymatic systems of the parasite's carbohydrate metabolism.
- It increases the flow of calcium through the tegument of the parasite causing its vacuolization and disintegration.
- It exposes parasitic antigens, activating the host's defense mechanisms.
- It also alters the metabolism of cestodes, interfering with glucose uptake, lactate release, and glycogen and ATP levels.
- In animals, it is absorbed through the digestive tract and its distribution is very wide in the body, even passing the blood-brain barrier. The spectrum of praziquantel covers all types of tapeworms (adults and juveniles).
Pyrantel pamoate:
- Pyrantel pamoate is a cholinergic agonist nematicide.
- It produces a depolarization of the neuromuscular junction that leads to spastic paralysis and subsequent death of the parasite.