- Email: [email protected]
The efficacy of ivermectin against nematode parasites of white fulani calves
Veterinary Parasitology, 19 (1986) 333--335 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., Amsterdam -- Printed in The Netherlands
333
S h o r t Communication THE EFFICACY OF IVERMECTIN AGAINST NEMATODE PARASITES OF WHITE FULANI CALVES
R.A. OGUNSUSI, O.J. AJANUSI and Y.O. OGUNKOYA Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (Nigeria) (Accepted for publication 6 June 1985)
ABSTRACT
Ogunsusi, R.A., Ajanusi, O.J. and Ogunkoya, Y.O., 1986. The efficacy of ivermectin against nematode parasites of White Fulani calves. Vet. Parasitol., 19: 333--335. Ivermectin was evaluated for anthelmintic activity in calves naturally infected with gastrointestinal helminths. Five of 10 calves were treated subcutaneously with ivermectin ' at 200 pg per kg body weight. One-hundred percent efficacy was indicated against adult and immature Haemonchus, Trichostrongylus, Bunostomum phlebotomum and Oesophagostomum radiatum. Adult Cooperia were also completely eliminated, and a 95.5% reduction was obtained for the immature forms; an 88.7% reduction was obtained for Trichuris spp.
INTRODUCTION
T h e use o f a n t h e l m i n t i c s f o r w o r m c o n t r o l is an i m p o r t a n t p a r t o f cattle m a n a g e m e n t in Nigeria. In the evaluation o f a n e w a n t h e l m i n t i c , requirem e n t s such as e f f i c i e n c y against a d u l t a n d i m m a t u r e parasites, degree o f t o x i c i t y and cost per t r e a t m e n t t o the user n e e d t o be considered. T h e disc o v e r y o f a n e w t y p e o f active f a m i l y o f anthelmintics, the ivermectins, has resulted in a n u m b e r o f r e p o r t s indicating e f f i c a c y o f one m e m b e r o f the f a m i l y , ivermectin, against a large n u m b e r o f parasites o f cattle (Benz and Ernst, 1 9 7 9 ; A r m o u r et al., 1 9 8 0 ; Butler, 1 9 8 0 ; W e s c o t t et al., 1 9 8 0 ; E g e r t o n et al., 1 9 8 1 ; Yazwinski et al., 1 9 8 1 ) . T h e p r e s e n t investigation was c o n d u c t e d t o evaluate the e f f i c a c y o f injectable i v e r m e c t i n w h e n a d m i n i s t e r e d at 2 0 0 ~g per kg b o d y weight; n e m a t o d e parasites in the Nigerian White Fulani calves were involved in t h e s t u d y . MATERIALS AND METHODS The 10 White Fulani calves used in the trial were aged 1 . 5 - - 2 years and weighed 1 2 0 - - 1 7 3 kg. These calves h a d bush-grazed and a c q u i r e d natural ' Supplied by Merck Sharp and Dohme AGVET, Division of Merck Sharp and Dohme Ltd., Veterinary Laboratory, Goose Green, Nr. Hertford, Gt. Britain. 0304-4017/86/$03.50
© 1986 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V.
334 gastrointestinal helminth infections. After purchase, they were allowed to graze on i n f e c t e d p a s t u r e in S a m a r u ( Z a r i a ) f o r a f u r t h e r p e r i o d o f 6 w e e k s ; thereafter they were withdrawn from pasture, weighed and separated into 5 p a i r s b a s e d on sex a n d b o d y w e i g h t . O n e r a n d o m l y s e l e c t e d c a l f f r o m e a c h o f t h e 5 pairs was t r e a t e d w i t h Iverm e c t i n ( M K - 9 3 3 ; i n j e c t a b l e f o r m u l a t i o n B; L - 6 4 0 , 4 7 1 - 3 5 V - E - 3 1 2 5 ) a t a d o s a g e o f 2 0 0 p g p e r kg b o d y w e i g h t ; t h e o t h e r m e m b e r o f e a c h p a i r was t h e u n t r e a t e d c o n t r o l . T h e t r e a t e d a n d u n t r e a t e d calves w e r e h o u s e d s e p a r a t e l y in c o n c r e t e p e n s in a h e l m i n t h - f r e e e n v i r o n m e n t . While in i s o l a t i o n , t h e calves w e r e f e d o n l y c o n c e n t r a t e s o f G u i n e a c o r n , c o t t o n s e e d a n d g r o u n d n u t c a k e , a n d h a y . F a e c a l egg c o u n t s w e r e p e r f o r m e d w e e k l y on all calves using t h e m o d i f i e d M c M a s t e r T e c h n i q u e ( W h i t l o c k , 1 9 6 0 ) . N e c r o p s y o f t h e calves was c a r r i e d o u t b e t w e e n 5 a n d 10 O c t o b e r 1 9 8 1 . C o l l e c t i o n o f gastrointestinal tract and the recovery, differentiation and counting of worms w e r e c a r r i e d o u t as d e s c r i b e d b y O g u n s u s i 1 9 7 8 ) . RESULTS P r e - t r e a t m e n t egg c o u n t s w e r e g e n e r a l l y l o w ( r a n g e 1 0 0 - - 3 0 0 0 eggs p e r g r a m o f f a e c e s (e.p.g.)). T h e 5 calves t r e a t e d w i t h i v e r m e c t i n h a d z e r o egg c o u n t s w h e n c h e c k e d 7 d a y s a f t e r t r e a t m e n t . T h e p o s t - t r e a t m e n t egg c o u n t s o f t h e c o n t r o l calves r a n g e d f r o m 1 2 0 0 - - 2 8 6 0 e.p.g. A t n e c r o p s y , 6 g e n e r a o f h e l m i n t h s w e r e r e c o v e r e d f r o m t h e g a s t r o i n t e s t i n a l t r a c t of t h e c o n t r o l calves, w h i l e in t h e t r e a t e d calves all h e l m i n t h s h a d b e e n c l e a r e d w i t h t h e exc e p t i o n o f i m m a t u r e Cooperia and Trichuris s p p . ( T a b l e I). T h e m e a n red u c t i o n in t h e n u m b e r o f i m m a t u r e Cooperia s p p . was 96% a n d t h e m e a n red u c t i o n o f Trichuris spp. was 88.7%. TABLE I Mean, standard deviation, and percentage removal of the number of helminths recovered at autopsy from the treated and control groups of calves Helminth species
Treated Adult
Haemonchusspp. Trichostrongylus spp. Cooperiaspp. Bunostomum phlebotomum Oesophagostomum radiatum Trichuris spp.
0 0 0 0 0
Control Immature 0 0 40 ± 42 0 0
24 -+ 36 --
Removal (%)
Adult
Immature
Adult Immature
820 ± 319 4480 ± 1952
3740-+ 2280 2800 ± 1449
100 100
100 100
2220 ± 709 200 + 214
1100 ± 316 156 ± 109
100 100
96 100
100
100
168 ±
83
212 ÷ 221
100 ± --
51
88.7 --
335 DISCUSSION
In t h i s t r i a l , i v e r m e c t i n has p r o v e d , a n d is again c o n f i r m e d , t o be h i g h l y eff i c i e n t as an a n t h e l m i n t i c f o r c a t t l e . T h e e x c e l l e n t r e s u l t s o b t a i n e d in t h i s trial were obtained without any preliminary starvation or premedication of t h e t r e a t e d calves. T h e r e w e r e n o i n d i c a t i o n s o f t o x i c i t y . T h e f o r m u l a t i o n s u p p l i e d was v e r y s a t i s f a c t o r y , e x c e p t t h a t t h e v e r y s m a l l d o s a g e s m i g h t be d i f f i c u l t t o a d m i n i s t e r a d e q u a t e l y in t h e f i e l d . ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS T h e a u t h o r s are g r a t e f u l t o Messrs J. O k w o r i a n d D. G i m b a f o r t e c h n i c a l assistance, and to Merck Sharp and D o h m e Ltd. for providing funds.
REFERENCES Armour, J., Bairden, K. and Preston, J.M., 1980. Anthelmintic efficiency of ivermectin against naturally acquired bovine gastrointestinal nematodes. Vet. Rec., 107: 226--227. Benz, G.W. and Ernst, J.V., 1979. Anthelmintic activities of B,a fraction of avermectin against gastrointestinal nematodes in calves. Am. J. Vet. Res., 40: 1187--1188. Butler, R.W., 1980. Avermectins, a new family of potent antiparasitic agents. 24th Conf. Aust. Soc. Parasitol., Adelaide, 19--21 May, 1980, p. 27 (abstract). Egerton, J.R., Eary, C.H. and Suhayda, D., 1981. The anthelmintic efficacy of ivermectin in experimentally infected cattle. Vet. Parasitol., 8: 59--70. Ogunsusi, R.A., 1978. Efficacy of thiophanate and thiabendazole against inhibited trichrostrongylid larvae in sheep. Res. Vet. Sci., 25: 251. Wescott, R.B., Farrelt, C.J., Gallina, A.M. and Foreyt, W.J., 1980. Efficacy of avermectin B,a for treatment of experimentally induced nematode infections in cattle. Am. J. Vet. Res., 41: 1226--1328. Whitlock, J.H., 1960. Diagnosis of Veterinary Parasitisms. Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia, p. 157. Yazwinski, T.A., Williams, M. Greenway, T. and Wiley, W., 1981. Anthelmintic activities of ivermectin against gastrointestinal nematodes of cattle. Am. J. Vet. Res., 42: 481-482.
333
S h o r t Communication THE EFFICACY OF IVERMECTIN AGAINST NEMATODE PARASITES OF WHITE FULANI CALVES
R.A. OGUNSUSI, O.J. AJANUSI and Y.O. OGUNKOYA Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (Nigeria) (Accepted for publication 6 June 1985)
ABSTRACT
Ogunsusi, R.A., Ajanusi, O.J. and Ogunkoya, Y.O., 1986. The efficacy of ivermectin against nematode parasites of White Fulani calves. Vet. Parasitol., 19: 333--335. Ivermectin was evaluated for anthelmintic activity in calves naturally infected with gastrointestinal helminths. Five of 10 calves were treated subcutaneously with ivermectin ' at 200 pg per kg body weight. One-hundred percent efficacy was indicated against adult and immature Haemonchus, Trichostrongylus, Bunostomum phlebotomum and Oesophagostomum radiatum. Adult Cooperia were also completely eliminated, and a 95.5% reduction was obtained for the immature forms; an 88.7% reduction was obtained for Trichuris spp.
INTRODUCTION
T h e use o f a n t h e l m i n t i c s f o r w o r m c o n t r o l is an i m p o r t a n t p a r t o f cattle m a n a g e m e n t in Nigeria. In the evaluation o f a n e w a n t h e l m i n t i c , requirem e n t s such as e f f i c i e n c y against a d u l t a n d i m m a t u r e parasites, degree o f t o x i c i t y and cost per t r e a t m e n t t o the user n e e d t o be considered. T h e disc o v e r y o f a n e w t y p e o f active f a m i l y o f anthelmintics, the ivermectins, has resulted in a n u m b e r o f r e p o r t s indicating e f f i c a c y o f one m e m b e r o f the f a m i l y , ivermectin, against a large n u m b e r o f parasites o f cattle (Benz and Ernst, 1 9 7 9 ; A r m o u r et al., 1 9 8 0 ; Butler, 1 9 8 0 ; W e s c o t t et al., 1 9 8 0 ; E g e r t o n et al., 1 9 8 1 ; Yazwinski et al., 1 9 8 1 ) . T h e p r e s e n t investigation was c o n d u c t e d t o evaluate the e f f i c a c y o f injectable i v e r m e c t i n w h e n a d m i n i s t e r e d at 2 0 0 ~g per kg b o d y weight; n e m a t o d e parasites in the Nigerian White Fulani calves were involved in t h e s t u d y . MATERIALS AND METHODS The 10 White Fulani calves used in the trial were aged 1 . 5 - - 2 years and weighed 1 2 0 - - 1 7 3 kg. These calves h a d bush-grazed and a c q u i r e d natural ' Supplied by Merck Sharp and Dohme AGVET, Division of Merck Sharp and Dohme Ltd., Veterinary Laboratory, Goose Green, Nr. Hertford, Gt. Britain. 0304-4017/86/$03.50
© 1986 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V.
334 gastrointestinal helminth infections. After purchase, they were allowed to graze on i n f e c t e d p a s t u r e in S a m a r u ( Z a r i a ) f o r a f u r t h e r p e r i o d o f 6 w e e k s ; thereafter they were withdrawn from pasture, weighed and separated into 5 p a i r s b a s e d on sex a n d b o d y w e i g h t . O n e r a n d o m l y s e l e c t e d c a l f f r o m e a c h o f t h e 5 pairs was t r e a t e d w i t h Iverm e c t i n ( M K - 9 3 3 ; i n j e c t a b l e f o r m u l a t i o n B; L - 6 4 0 , 4 7 1 - 3 5 V - E - 3 1 2 5 ) a t a d o s a g e o f 2 0 0 p g p e r kg b o d y w e i g h t ; t h e o t h e r m e m b e r o f e a c h p a i r was t h e u n t r e a t e d c o n t r o l . T h e t r e a t e d a n d u n t r e a t e d calves w e r e h o u s e d s e p a r a t e l y in c o n c r e t e p e n s in a h e l m i n t h - f r e e e n v i r o n m e n t . While in i s o l a t i o n , t h e calves w e r e f e d o n l y c o n c e n t r a t e s o f G u i n e a c o r n , c o t t o n s e e d a n d g r o u n d n u t c a k e , a n d h a y . F a e c a l egg c o u n t s w e r e p e r f o r m e d w e e k l y on all calves using t h e m o d i f i e d M c M a s t e r T e c h n i q u e ( W h i t l o c k , 1 9 6 0 ) . N e c r o p s y o f t h e calves was c a r r i e d o u t b e t w e e n 5 a n d 10 O c t o b e r 1 9 8 1 . C o l l e c t i o n o f gastrointestinal tract and the recovery, differentiation and counting of worms w e r e c a r r i e d o u t as d e s c r i b e d b y O g u n s u s i 1 9 7 8 ) . RESULTS P r e - t r e a t m e n t egg c o u n t s w e r e g e n e r a l l y l o w ( r a n g e 1 0 0 - - 3 0 0 0 eggs p e r g r a m o f f a e c e s (e.p.g.)). T h e 5 calves t r e a t e d w i t h i v e r m e c t i n h a d z e r o egg c o u n t s w h e n c h e c k e d 7 d a y s a f t e r t r e a t m e n t . T h e p o s t - t r e a t m e n t egg c o u n t s o f t h e c o n t r o l calves r a n g e d f r o m 1 2 0 0 - - 2 8 6 0 e.p.g. A t n e c r o p s y , 6 g e n e r a o f h e l m i n t h s w e r e r e c o v e r e d f r o m t h e g a s t r o i n t e s t i n a l t r a c t of t h e c o n t r o l calves, w h i l e in t h e t r e a t e d calves all h e l m i n t h s h a d b e e n c l e a r e d w i t h t h e exc e p t i o n o f i m m a t u r e Cooperia and Trichuris s p p . ( T a b l e I). T h e m e a n red u c t i o n in t h e n u m b e r o f i m m a t u r e Cooperia s p p . was 96% a n d t h e m e a n red u c t i o n o f Trichuris spp. was 88.7%. TABLE I Mean, standard deviation, and percentage removal of the number of helminths recovered at autopsy from the treated and control groups of calves Helminth species
Treated Adult
Haemonchusspp. Trichostrongylus spp. Cooperiaspp. Bunostomum phlebotomum Oesophagostomum radiatum Trichuris spp.
0 0 0 0 0
Control Immature 0 0 40 ± 42 0 0
24 -+ 36 --
Removal (%)
Adult
Immature
Adult Immature
820 ± 319 4480 ± 1952
3740-+ 2280 2800 ± 1449
100 100
100 100
2220 ± 709 200 + 214
1100 ± 316 156 ± 109
100 100
96 100
100
100
168 ±
83
212 ÷ 221
100 ± --
51
88.7 --
335 DISCUSSION
In t h i s t r i a l , i v e r m e c t i n has p r o v e d , a n d is again c o n f i r m e d , t o be h i g h l y eff i c i e n t as an a n t h e l m i n t i c f o r c a t t l e . T h e e x c e l l e n t r e s u l t s o b t a i n e d in t h i s trial were obtained without any preliminary starvation or premedication of t h e t r e a t e d calves. T h e r e w e r e n o i n d i c a t i o n s o f t o x i c i t y . T h e f o r m u l a t i o n s u p p l i e d was v e r y s a t i s f a c t o r y , e x c e p t t h a t t h e v e r y s m a l l d o s a g e s m i g h t be d i f f i c u l t t o a d m i n i s t e r a d e q u a t e l y in t h e f i e l d . ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS T h e a u t h o r s are g r a t e f u l t o Messrs J. O k w o r i a n d D. G i m b a f o r t e c h n i c a l assistance, and to Merck Sharp and D o h m e Ltd. for providing funds.
REFERENCES Armour, J., Bairden, K. and Preston, J.M., 1980. Anthelmintic efficiency of ivermectin against naturally acquired bovine gastrointestinal nematodes. Vet. Rec., 107: 226--227. Benz, G.W. and Ernst, J.V., 1979. Anthelmintic activities of B,a fraction of avermectin against gastrointestinal nematodes in calves. Am. J. Vet. Res., 40: 1187--1188. Butler, R.W., 1980. Avermectins, a new family of potent antiparasitic agents. 24th Conf. Aust. Soc. Parasitol., Adelaide, 19--21 May, 1980, p. 27 (abstract). Egerton, J.R., Eary, C.H. and Suhayda, D., 1981. The anthelmintic efficacy of ivermectin in experimentally infected cattle. Vet. Parasitol., 8: 59--70. Ogunsusi, R.A., 1978. Efficacy of thiophanate and thiabendazole against inhibited trichrostrongylid larvae in sheep. Res. Vet. Sci., 25: 251. Wescott, R.B., Farrelt, C.J., Gallina, A.M. and Foreyt, W.J., 1980. Efficacy of avermectin B,a for treatment of experimentally induced nematode infections in cattle. Am. J. Vet. Res., 41: 1226--1328. Whitlock, J.H., 1960. Diagnosis of Veterinary Parasitisms. Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia, p. 157. Yazwinski, T.A., Williams, M. Greenway, T. and Wiley, W., 1981. Anthelmintic activities of ivermectin against gastrointestinal nematodes of cattle. Am. J. Vet. Res., 42: 481-482.