Impact of dung from ivermectin-treated sheep on oogenesis and survival of adult Lucilia cuprina.
Females of the Australian sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina, exploit sheep dung as a source of protein for egg development. Flies fed on dung collected from sheep 1 to 6 days after being drenched with the broad-spectrum antiparasitic drug ivermectin showed delayed reproductive development and reduced fecundity. Male and female survival was also reduced. Despite these effects, except where the recommended frequency of drenching (1 to 4 times per annum) is greatly exceeded, it is unlikely that ivermectin residues will affect any useful reduction in blowfly populations.
Mahon
R J
RJ
CSIRO, Division of Entomology, Canberra City, Australian Capital Territory.
Wardhaugh
K G
KG
D000818:Animals; D004175:Diptera / Q000502:physiology*; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects; D007559:Ivermectin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009866:Oogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D012756:Sheep
D007559:Ivermectin