Treatment of equine onchocerciasis with ivermectin paste.
Abstract: A single oral dose of ivermectin paste was administered to 12 horses with dermatitis and clinical signs typical of onchocerciasis. Two of the horses also had lesions of Queensland itch. Microfilarias of Onchocerca cervicalis were identified in fresh, macerated, skin biopsies from the neck, brisket or umbilical regions of all horses and microfilarias of O. gutturosa from the neck of 2. Eight of the horses developed skin reactions 4 to 24 h after the administration of the ivermectin, notably weals over the neck, shoulders and flanks and pitting oedema of the ventral midline and intermandibular space. Regression of the onchocerciasis lesions was evident within 7 days of treatment and affected skin had returned to normal within 3 months. The lesions of Queensland itch were not affected by the ivermectin treatment. Microfilarias were present in biopsies of skin, particularly in the superficial dermis, before treatment, but were absent from all skin biopsies taken one week after treatment. In some horses transient skin sensitivity reactions developed. Microfilarias began to reappear in the biopsies of some of the horses 2 months after treatment. It is concluded that the oral paste formulation of ivermectin, although not effective against adult onchocerca, is useful for the therapeutic control of microfilarias in the skin lesions of equine onchocerciasis.
Publication Date: 1986-05-01 PubMed ID: 3755903DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.1986.tb02955.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This study tests a single, oral dose of ivermectin paste on 12 horses with onchocerciasis, a parasitic disease. The results showed that the treatment was successful in significantly decreasing the parasites, though some transient skin reactions occurred. The treatment did not work against adult onchocerca, but was helpful for controlling the younger, or microfilaria, stage.
Methodology
- The study was conducted on 12 horses showing symptoms of onchocerciasis, which is a parasitic infection caused by a species of roundworm. Two of these horses displayed lesions from a condition known as Queensland itch.
- Before treatment, skin biopsies were taken from the horses and examined microscopically to confirm the presence of the Onchocerca parasites in their microfilaria, or juvenile, stage.
- All of the horses were given a single, oral dose of ivermectin paste, which is a broad-spectrum antiparasitic medication.
Findings
- Following the administration of ivermectin, eight of the horses developed skin reactions including weals and pitting oedema. These reactions were however transient and had resolved within 24 hours.
- Regression of the onchocerciasis lesions was noticeable within 7 days from the treatment. Within 3 months, the affected skin had returned to its original state.
- It was observed that through microscopic analysis of skin biopsies taken after the treatment, no microfilaria could be detected. This was a clear indicator that the treatment had been successful in dealing with the parasitic infection in the skin lesions.
- The study found that the treatment had, however, no effect on the lesions caused by Queensland itch.
- Two months after treatment, microfilaria began to reappear in some horses’ biopsied skin samples indicating that the treatment was not a permanent solution.
Conclusion
- The study concluded that a single, oral dose of ivermectin paste is beneficial in controlling the microfilaria stage of Onchocerca. It was highlighted that the treatment was not effective against the adult stage of the parasite.
- This implies the usefulness of ivermectin paste as a therapeutic control for the microfilaria stage in the skin lesions of equine onchocerciasis.
Cite This Article
APA
Pollitt CC, Holdsworth PA, Kelly WR, Meacham CS, Sheahan B.
(1986).
Treatment of equine onchocerciasis with ivermectin paste.
Aust Vet J, 63(5), 152-156.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-0813.1986.tb02955.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Anthelmintics / therapeutic use
- Ectoparasitic Infestations / drug therapy
- Ectoparasitic Infestations / pathology
- Ectoparasitic Infestations / veterinary
- Female
- Filaricides / therapeutic use
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horse Diseases / parasitology
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Ivermectin
- Lactones / therapeutic use
- Male
- Ointments
- Onchocerciasis / drug therapy
- Onchocerciasis / pathology
- Onchocerciasis / veterinary
Citations
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