Field study on the efficacy of an oral 2% ivermectin formulation in horses.

This study tested the effectiveness and safety of a 2% ivermectin oral treatment in horses infected with nematodes. The treatment was well-tolerated and effective at eliminating parasites, as shown by decreased number of eggs per gram of feces in treated horses compared to control group.

Study Design and Methodology

• The research was a blind, controlled field study involving twenty naturally nematode-infected horses. The blindness of the study ensured that the outcomes wouldn’t be biased by the researchers or the animals’ caretakers knowing which horses received the treatment.
• The horses were divided into two groups of ten: those who received the 2% ivermectin treatment, and a control group that didn’t receive any treatment. The horses in both groups had comparable initial levels of eggs per gram of feces (EPG), a parameter used to estimate the parasitic infection severity.
• The treatment group received 2% ivermectin orally at a dose of 0.2 mg/kg. Stool samples were collected at various time points (days 0, +5, +14, and +19) to identify the nematode species and to perform EPG counts. Nineteen different nematode species were identified throughout the study.

Results and Findings

• Over time, the average EPG counts in the treated group decreased significantly, reaching zero by day +19. In contrast, the EPG counts in the control group remained high throughout the study.
• At each stage of the study (days +5, +14, and +19), the efficacy of the ivermectin treatment was calculated. The treatment was 100% effective on days +5 and +19, and 99.2% effective on day +14. There were significant differences between these efficacy rates and the control group, demonstrating the effectiveness of the treatment.

Safety of the Treatment

• Beyond assessing efficacy, the study also monitored for any signs of adverse reactions or health changes in the horses throughout the study. The 2% ivermectin treatment was found to be safe, with no clinically significant changes observed.

This study strongly suggests that a 2% oral ivermectin formulation is an effective and safe treatment for nematode infections in horses.