Controlled test of anthelmintic activity of levamisole administered to calves via drinking water, subcutaneous injection, or alfalfa pellet premix.
A controlled test of the activity of 3 formulations of levamisole, at the dose level of approximately 8 mg/kg, against naturally occurring infections of gastrointestinal parasites and lungworms was made in 24 calves allotted to 4 groups of 6 calves each. Levamisole was administered to group I calves in the drinking water, to group II calves by subcutaneous injection, and to Group III calves by feeding alfalfa pellets mixed in corn silage; group IV calves were nontreated controls. Group I calves consumed the medicated water between 4 hours and 20 minutes and 9 hours and 40 minutes; group III calves consumed the medicated feed within 2 hours and 15 minutes. For calves of group I, II, and III, removals of 4th-stage Ostertagia sp were 64, 23, and 0%; of mature Ostertagia ostertagi, 90, 93, and 83%; and of mature Trichostrongylus axei, 92, 99, and 92%, respectively. For all 3 treated groups of calves, removal was 100% for 4th-stage Cooperia sp and for mature Trichostrongylus colubriformis, Cooperia oncophora, Cooperia punctata, and Oesophagostomum radiatum. Removals of Dictyocaulus vivipara were 90, 90, and 94% for calves of groups I, II, and III, respectively. There was no evidence of toxicosis. At necropsy, 2 calves in group II had small areas of edema at the sites of injection of levamisole.
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004022:Dictyocaulus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D006374:Helminthiasis, Animal; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007978:Levamisole / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000455:Medicago sativa; D008989:Monieziasis / Q000188:drug therapy; D009814:Oesophagostomiasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D010029:Ostertagiasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D014253:Trichostrongylosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D014867:Water
D014867:Water; D007978:Levamisole