Controlled evaluation of ivermectin in Shetland ponies.

This research article presents a controlled evaluation of a drug named ivermectin on 12 yearling Shetland ponies and provides data on its efficacy in eliminating different types of parasites from the ponies.

Objective of the Research

• The main objective of the research was to evaluate the efficacy of ivermectin, an anti-parasitic drug when injected intramuscularly (IM) into yearling Shetland ponies in eliminating various parasites.

Methodology

• Ivermectin was injected intramuscularly into 12 yearling Shetland ponies.
• Two groups were created for this study. One group received 200 microgram/kg of ivermectin and the other received 300 microgram/kg.
• A comparative study was performed based on the parasitic population in the ponies one week post-injection.

Results

• Various types of parasites were identified and the level of reduction in their population was recorded.
• Parasites like Gasterophilus intestinalis, G nasalis, Parascaris equorum, Strongylus vulgaris, S edentatus had 100% reduction in the groups that took 200 microgram/kg or 300 microgram/kg of ivermectin.
• For cyathostome adults of various genera and 4th-stage larvae, over 95% reduction was observed in both test groups.
• Ivermectin demonstrated varying levels of effectiveness against Oxyuris equi, an equine pinworm, especially the adult males where a reduction of only 66.7% and 77.7% was observed in the 200 and 300 microgram/kg groups respectively.
• There was no reduction in the population of Otobius megnini nymphs, indicating that ivermectin was not effective against this particular parasite.

Conclusion

• The research concluded that ivermectin, when injected IM at both 200 and 300 microgram/kg, was highly effective in eliminating a majority of the parasites present in the tested Shetland ponies.
• However, the drug seemed to be less efficient in controlling the population of Oxyuris equi, specifically adult males, and did not affect Otobius megnini nymphs.
• The study also commented that there were a few parasites that were too few in number to estimate the actual efficacy of the drug.