Ivermectin and an ivermectin-penicillin combination: a comparison of anthelmintic efficacy in horses.

This study investigates the efficacy of ivermectin and a combination of ivermectin-penicillin in removing strongyle eggs in horses. It was found that both treatments were successful, with no observable side effects in the horses.

Research Objective

• This research aimed to compare the efficacy of using ivermectin alone or in combination with procaine penicillin G to reduce fecal strongyle egg counts in horses.

Study Design

• The study involved 20 randomly selected young horses of various breeds.
• They were treated with ivermectin administered intramuscularly at a dose of 200 micrograms per kilogram of body weight. The horses were either treated with ivermectin alone or in combination with procaine penicillin G, administered at 600 IU per kilogram.

Results

• The researchers observed that pre-treatment strongyle egg counts in fecal matter ranged from 400 to 4100 eggs per gram, with an average count greater than 1000 eggs per gram.
• Seven days after the treatment, the strongyle egg count in the horses’ feces dropped to zero, indicating that the treatments were successful.

Side Effects

• The study did not record any systemic (affecting the whole body) or injection-site reactions, either immediate or delayed, in any of the horses after administering the treatments.

Implications

• The findings from this study suggest that ivermectin, either alone or combined with procaine penicillin G, is effective for reducing strongyle egg counts in horses.
• The absence of observable side effects also implies that these treatments could be safe for use in horses.