Efficacy of doramectin in the protection of neonatal calves and post-parturient cows against field strikes of Cochliomyia hominivorax.
Two studies were conducted in Latin America, one in Venezuela and one in Argentina, using a common protocol to investigate the efficacy of a single s.c. injection of doramectin in the prevention and control of field infestations of Cochliomyia hominivorax in newborn calves and post-parturient cows. In both experiments, pregnant cows were paired on the basis of their calving time. The first cow that calved was assigned to a medicated group, and both cow and calf were treated with doramectin. The cow received a dose of 200 micrograms kg-1 and the calf 1 ml of a 1% doramectin solution. The second cow and calf were assigned to a saline-treated group, and the cow received saline at 1 ml per 50 kg and the calf 1 ml. The procedure was repeated until all animals were allocated to the two treatments. Animals were examined on the treatment day and at 2, 4, 6 and 12 days post-treatment. At each observation day, the navel of newborn calves and external genitalia of the cows were inspected and the presence of C. hominivorax infestations was recorded. Doramectin was 100% effective in the prevention and control of screwworm strikes in newborn calves and in post-parturient cows exposed to continuous field challenge of C. hominivorax. Over the 12 day duration of the studies, 48% and 57% of the saline-treated calves had screwworm navel strikes in the studies in Venezuela and Argentina, respectively. Infested animals required repeated therapeutic treatment, whereas none of the doramectin-treated calves were affected (P < 0.005).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Muniz
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Animal Health Group, Pfizer Inc., Groton, CT 06340, USA.
Anziani
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OS
Ordoñez
J
J
Errecalde
J
J
Moreno
J
J
Rew
R S
RS
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001118:Argentina; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005835:Genitalia / Q000469:parasitology; D007306:Insecticides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007559:Ivermectin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012610:Screw Worm Infection / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D014472:Umbilicus / Q000469:parasitology; D014687:Venezuela
D007306:Insecticides; D007559:Ivermectin; C084101:doramectin