Abstract:
Wild and domestic canids are major definitive hosts and reservoirs of parasitic zoonoses of veterinary and public health importance, contaminating the environment with infective stages and posing significant ecological and epidemiological risks. This study presents an innovative bait-based anthelmintic delivery system designed to improve the treatment of wild and domestic canids while reducing handling stress and administration costs. The bait consists of wheat flour, meat flour, vegetable oil, and albendazole, homogenized, extruded into standardized briquettes, and individually sealed in heat-sealable filter paper to protect the active ingredient from environmental degradation. Field testing in Vulpes vulpes demonstrated high efficacy (94.7%) for both therapeutic and prophylactic deworming. The bait ensures accurate dosing, high palatability, and simplified administration, eliminating the need to capture wild animals. This approach contributes to reducing zoonotic transmission, protecting wildlife resources, and strengthening bioecological and epidemiological security in natural and anthropized ecosystems.