Veterinary use of ivermectin.

This research paper discusses how ivermectin, a drug initially introduced in 1981 as a veterinary parasiticide, is used to treat various infections caused by nematodes and arthropods in different animals. The researchers examine the efficacy of various methods of ivermectin application in tackling different infections.

Ivermectin: Introduction and Use

• Ivermectin was first used as a parasiticide in 1981, providing a unique solution for treating parasitic diseases in animals.
• The medicine has a diverse structure, which makes it effective against both nematode and arthropod species.
• In various animals like cattle, sheep, horses, and pigs, ivermectin can be administered in different forms such as injectable, oral, and topical products, with concentrations usually ranging from 200 to 500 micrograms per kilogram.

Efficacy Against Nematodes

• With respect to nematodes, the drug is useful in treating infections in the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts, the conjunctival sac, and soft tissues.

Action Against Arthropod Parasites

• Among arthropods, the range of ivermectin’s impact is wide. It has proven helpful against the biting fly Haematobia irritans, the screw-worm Chrysomyia bezziana, the oestrid fly larvae like Hypoderma species, Dermatobia hominis, Oestrus ovis, and Gastrophilus species.
• Other arthropods against which the drug is effective include lice, mange mites, and ticks species such as Boophilus and Ornithodorus savignyi.

Use in Dogs

• For dogs, the research identifies two oral formulations of ivermectin that can be administered to prevent heartworm disease, usually caused by Dirofilaria immitis.
• The recommended dosage stands at 6 micrograms per kilogram and is usually given once a month throughout the mosquito season, which is when dogs are at the highest risk of contracting the disease.